TEAMWORK -cooperative work by group -work produced by group -work done by several associates with each doing a part

but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole -the work done by people who work together as a team to do something -the work or activity of a number of persons acting together as a team

Two of the interactive processes essential for the functioning of real teams are: brainstorming and consensus. Brainstorming is a freewheeling exchange of ideas without judgment or discussion, where team members build on each other's ideas. Done right, five to ten heads are better than one. Beyond that basic statement, you really need to experience brainstorming to get it; and your team needs to practice brainstorming (preferably with a seasoned facilitator) to actualize its potential. Consensus also needs to be experienced and practiced, but an intellectual understanding of what it is (and isn't) is useful. Consensus is the best thinking of all group members. How do you obtain that best thinking? Let's specify, first, what you don't do. You don't vote!

A unanimous vote (representing everyone's first priorities) is highly unlikely. A majority vote might not be supported by the minority.

Consensus is reaching a decision acceptable enough that no team member opposes it. This might not sound all that exciting, but it means that all can support it. Think about the significance of this proposition. If, indeed, the team members possess necessary complementary skills, then the opinions and buy-in of every member are critical to the team's success. Well, if they don't vote, how does a team reach this consensus?

Often, they start with brainstorming to generate ideas and potential solutions. Then they zero in on (and tweak) the best ideas by: 1. Using well-honed communications skills like listening and assertion 2. Tuning in to each other's non-verbal cues ... and 3. Practicing RESPECT. [See our "Managing The Human Resource" article for the behaviors represented by this acronym.] Teamwork can be defined as an activity or a set of inter-related activities done by more than one person to meet a common goal. Teamwork is not followed only in the corporate world today, rather it is one of the oldest things known to man. Mankind has worked in teams and groups since the primitive days of civilization. Hunting and wandering together in groups is an apt example of teamwork during those days. It is only in recent times, that it has been developed as a 'concept' in the management jargon. T - Together E - Everyone A - Achieves M - More I am sure you have definitely heard or read the above extended form of the word TEAM many times. Together Everyone Achieves More, itself conveys the importance of teamwork in the workplace and elsewhere. In the context of this article, let us see the importance of teamwork in the workplace. Why is Teamwork Important at Workplace? The importance of working in a team are many. It involves the joint efforts of a number of people to achieve a common goal. Therefore every organization should emphasize on the importance of teamwork for the overall growth of the company. Fast Learning You tend to learn things at a faster rate, if you are working as a team. The experiences and knowledge of the older team members help you to grasp new concepts quickly. At the same time it proves to be an added bonus for you as you avoid mistakes at work. Workload Distribution Working in a team has an advantage of the workload getting distributed among all

the team members. With work properly distributed, you can concentrate on a single activity till the time you gain expertise in it and you do not feel stressed out due to work. Building Bonds Continuous interaction with the team members, working with them for the day, having your meals with them, sharing your joys and sorrows helps in building a strong bond between each other. In this way, you can even make friends for a lifetime. Healthy Competition Just think of a situation where people are competing with each other and trying to excel better than the other. At the same time they are helping and assisting each other in work-related as well as personal difficulties and problems. Wouldn't that be a great sight! Well this is possible when you work as a team, as everyone is emotionally bonded to each other. Exploring Creativity While working in a team you will never be alone, you will always have some or the other person to suggest you good things. Suggestions and advice can help you in generating new ideas and bring out the creativity in you. Job Satisfaction Teamwork is one of the most important reasons for employee job satisfaction. This is because working in a team improves employee performance as well as makes the work enjoyable. This is also conducive to employee motivation. Increased Speed of Work With many people handling a single project and doing the assigned work properly, the overall work speed increases and your team can complete the project well within the given time frame. The above-mentioned benefits of teamwork were team specific. But teamwork is even beneficial at the organizational level. Effective teamwork in the workplace benefits the organization by increasing the productivity which is important to meet the targets and fulfill commitments. Also, teamwork ensures maximum use of manpower. This is the reason companies are promoting teamwork in the workplace. Working as a team can benefit you as an individual, as a team as well as an organization. For some people it might be a bit difficult to adjust in a group initially,

but I am sure, they will gradually learn to adjust and work as a team. Effective teamwork motivates an individual to grow into a responsible citizen and accomplish individual as well as organizational goals. In the present day globally competitive market, the real success of a firm lies in the performance of its team. A dull, demotivated team lacking in coordination leads to the downfall of an organization whereas a company with well organized employees charts out the path to success. HR policies of the company are hence always directed for the betterment of the employee so that their performance can be maximized. So, next time, your team lands up with a project, remember the motto: "Together We Can". Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful & so rare. from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Leoncioni

individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. ~Vince Lombardi If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. ~Henry Ford
Teamwork is commonly thought of as working as a group or team towards a common goal. This concept is not unusual. We see it in many facets of our lives from sports to family to business. Although in a business setting, accounting techniques are often used to measure the benefits of teamwork which are useful for justifying the concept. In healthcare, teamwork is often defined as a dynamic process involving two or more healthcare professionals with complementary backgrounds and skills, sharing common health goals and exercising concerted physical and mental effort in assessing, planning, or evaluating patient care. Teamwork is increasingly becoming the preferred policy for healthcare professionals to assure the desired level of quality and safety in the delivery of services is attained. Building a Teamwork Culture To foster teamwork in an organization is to create a work culture that values collaboration by sharing ideas and working together. In an environment that encourages teamwork, people understand and believe that the thinking and planning of decisions and actions are better when done as a group rather than as individuals. People in this environment recognize the idea that many working together is greater than only one.

Workplaces that exemplify teamwork is more difficult to find than you might think. Most institutions in the United States, such as schools, family structures and our pastimes emphasize winning, being the best, and coming out on top. Workers are rarely raised in environments that emphasize true teamwork and collaboration. Many organizations have begun the shift to placing a higher value on diverse people, ideas, backgrounds, and experiences, but we have a long way to go before valuing teams and teamwork will be the expected norm. Creating a teamwork culture can still be done by doing just a few things right. Although it may not be an easy adjustment, an overall sense of teamwork can create a new level of commitment and appreciation for the value you can create in your organization. Teamwork To succeed at the task in hand everyone involved needs to combine their efforts. If everyone does their job well, then it increases what the team can accomplish. This teamwork has to be recognised by everyone and know that great things can happen if individuals master the fundamentals and work together as one unit. Everyone has their own unique role, but each person's individual role must be recognised and appreciated. Teamwork is something that must be a high priority and given constant attention. Every player needs to understand how important it is for them to work smoothly together if they want to be successful. Each player must be dedicated to the whole team and be willing to act unselfishly. When challenges arise (as they always do), the team needs to have the resources, accountability and commitment to deal with them in a constructive and positive manner. A sense of teamwork will play an integral part in this. Just remember T.E.A.M. - Together Everyone Achieves More! Understanding the Importance of Teamwork Karlene Sugarman explains how you can assess and develop a cohesive team The concept of teamwork is extremely important to the success of any team. All coaches talk about working as one unit, as a unified team. Teamwork and unselfishness create the backbone of a great team, without them a team cannot realistically compete. You can have a group of superstars, but if they do not work well as one unit, chances are they are not going to be as successful as you would think. The team working as one cohesive unit is going to be the key in their success. ere are some things to take into consideration when you are looking at your team: 1. Does your team have agreed-upon goals they created as a team? 2. Do the players openly encourage and support one another?

3. Do they have open communication with one another, as well as the coaching staff? 4. Does each player know what their role on the team is? 5. Is there mutual respect among the players and coaching staff? 6. Do players use statements such as "we" when referring to the team, or is it more of an "every man for himself" mentality? 7. Have they created a positive team image for themselves? 8. Are the individual contributions of each player recognised (regardless of whether he/she is a starter or not a starter)? 9. Is the team as a whole committed to improving performance? 10.Does each member consider themselves as a "team player?" A productive team has players that share common goals, a common vision and have some level of interdependence that requires both verbal and physical interaction. Teams come into existence through shared attitudes about a particular sport. They may come together for a number of different reasons, but their goals are the same - to achieve peak performance and experience success. The ends may differ but the means by which one gets there is the same - teamwork. Every member of the team is accountable when it comes to teamwork.