A document editor is one tool that helps teams coalesce since it can foster collaboration and communication. Building successful, productive teams takes more than a document editor, though. There are people to consider as well, and hiring practices should consider that. Any new team members should be screened and scrutinized to see if they have the qualities necessary to integrate successfully into a team. People are key to the way teams function since employees with similar goals and like-minded interests can work better together than those who do not. But there are many other ways to build teams that work well together and complete projects on time.
Tips for Successful Team Building
Screen Well
When hiring recruits, companies need to look at professional qualifications, experience, and skills, but they should also look at soft, interpersonal skills that can help new hires integrate into existing teams. Sometimes candidates who have years of experience and are highly trained have difficulties working on a team and put their ambitions and goals ahead of the team’s.
Social skills are not always easy to learn, but dedicated professionals work hard to improve how they communicate, support, and collaborate with other team members because they know it is essential. Companies should balance out the hard skills of any new candidates with demonstrated soft skills as well.
Set Benchmarks
One of the easiest ways to motivate a team is to set achievable goals for them to work towards. A team that has a defined set of benchmarks can go about creating solutions and pathways toward those goals. Setting goals gives team members clarity so they are not distracted by other concerns and dedicate all their energy toward a single purpose.
Give Teams What They Need
After you’ve set your team goals, you should also ensure they have all the tools and equipment they need to achieve those goals. All teams rely on the individual intelligence and skills of their members to push collectively toward a benchmark but give them the right resources to complete those objectives, whether it is a document or PDF editor, or some new type of software.
It is unrealistic to expect your team to perform at its best without providing the time and money required. A supported team also pushes itself knowing that they have the backup needed to tackle issues or disputes. You should also set reasonable expectations for your team so they can properly allocate their resources without running over budget.
Incentivize
You can motivate a team by providing a set goal, but you can also motivate teams the old-fashioned way by making a sprint or project completion competitive and giving rewards to the winners. This is a tried-and-tested method to make teams work harder since it creates a friendly rivalry between different teams that pushes them to innovate, think outside the box, and push their limits.
Make Time for Social Events
Team-building can take place outside of the office as well. It is normal for companies to organize social gatherings and other team-specific activities to create a sense of camaraderie that can translate into the workspace. People who struggle to work on a team in the office can have their inhibitions and insecurities disappear when they are in a non-work environment.
This kind of team-building can only take place in a fun, relaxed environment that has no stakes. People should be able to socialize and be comfortable around each other in all kinds of environments, so they can feel comfortable when the stakes are high and the pressure is on them to achieve.
