8 steps to good teamwork

5 de June, 2023

Nowadays, almost every job requires working with other people. What’s more, being successful at a professional level often requires knowing how to work well in a team.

Teamwork is highly valuable as it involves different perspectives, approaches, knowledge and skills, allowing professionals to learn and evolve.

At the same time, we know that dealing with this diversity and working as a team can also be challenging. But there are some tactics that you can put into practice for good teamwork. Come and find out!

1 – Support your colleagues

Maintain a positive attitude that stimulates and encourages the work of other colleagues. Make yourself available to collaborate when necessary.

2 – Be a good communicator

Good communication skills are the foundation of any interpersonal relationship and the relationship between teammates is no exception. If you listen actively, convey your ideas clearly and are empathetic and respectful, you will work more harmoniously and effectively as a team.

3 – Know your team’s objectives well

Often, teamwork doesn’t work well because professionals are not aligned on their common goals. On the other hand, some workers tend to focus on their individual goals, rather than taking a more global view of what is required of the team as a whole.

Being a good team “player” means not only knowing the team’s objectives well, but also recognizing that these take precedence over individual ones.

4 – Share information and resources

Since everyone is working towards a common purpose, the exchange of knowledge and resources is crucial to achieving that purpose. Share your experience, information or resources whenever you think it will add value to your team’s work.

5 – Adapt to other people’s ways of working

Working with colleagues who have different methods to ours can be challenging. That’s why flexibility and adaptability are the watchwords.

Understand that everyone is different and working as a team requires knowing how to deal with that difference.

6 – Focus on solutions, not problems

A problem-solving mindset is one of the skills that companies are most looking for in their candidates. Being solution-oriented, rather than overwhelmed by problems, will also help you collaborate more effectively with colleagues.

7 – Give priority to constructive criticism

By clearly understanding the collective objectives – knowing exactly what your role and that of the other team members is in achieving them – you can advise your colleagues when there is a challenge or obstacle.

However, make sure that criticism is always constructive, well-intentioned and positive in tone. Always be sincere, honest and transparent in your comments and opinions. Working well as a team means not wanting to undermine or belittle anyone.

8 – Handle disagreements well

Conflict is inevitably a natural occurrence in the workplace and within teams. Disagreements are normal, especially during times and projects of greater stress or pressure.

In order to work well in a team, it is essential to have a good ability to manage and deal with conflicts, trying to smooth over any disagreements and proposing practical ideas for resolving them.

Working in a team isn’t always easy. But look at teamwork as an opportunity, not an obstacle: an opportunity for growth and personal and professional development.

Interacting with different professionals – with different profiles and ways of working, with different experiences and knowledge – will give you the chance to deepen your skills and become a more complete and capable professional.