A successful business is built on strong teams. The strength and effectiveness of the team determines how far the business can go.

Teams that trust each other, communicate clearly, help each other and recognize every members’ efforts are often the ones that are successful. Strong teams determine the strength of the company’s foundation- the stronger the teams are, the stronger the foundation will be.

This is why companies pay so much time and attention to team building. Many hire professionals for team building and spend a lot of money to implement effective systems.

But not all organizations need these complicated tactics. Many have found that simple behaviours like sending in personalized gratitude notes, or organizing team activities help immensely.

Let’s look at some effective ways to steadily build strong teams that are happy, productive and always ready to give their best.

1. Communication Is Key

   To create collaborative, strong teams, you as a leader must ensure that you are communicating openly with your team. Providing clear information on their tasks, and what is expected of them, creates a direct route for more productivity.Regular communication with your team gives everyone a chance to speak up. This fosters a culture of ideas and opinion sharing that allows teammates to identify areas where help or assistance may be required- which would otherwise be difficult.This may seem like a small change, but it is crucial when you want your team to come out stronger and more efficient. To keep meetings from getting boring, organize sessions with a “no work-related discussion” rule so that everyone can get to know each other.A simple tool like a meeting app or creating a place for discussion is all you need to keep employees in-the-know about not only their department, but about other team members as well.

2. Set Goals

   To create a focused and strong team, set clear goals. Goals can be long- or short-term. These goals help your employees to keep an eye on the target and make decisions that will help them reach it.Increase their enthusiasm at work by rewarding every time they complete a task, mission or target. Setting goals also shows how every task they perform fits into the big picture.Having said that, you must remember to not set deadlines or targets just for the sake of setting them- they should have a purpose and be achievable. Make sure you encourage team members to help each other to meet those goals, and take part in team work.

3. Make Mistakes A Part Of Growth

   While it is important to celebrate and reward employees for their successes, it is equally important to accept failures and mistakes. The way everyone in your team comes together to applaud each other for their good performance, make it a point to bring them together to turn the failures into something positive. This will help your team assess themselves and allocate their resources better, brainstorm to create new ideas and turn the situation into a learning opportunity, and eventually come out as a strong team.An opportunity to reflect is an opportunity for growth. Let your team take equal responsibility, without blaming anyone.

4. Value Each Role

   In order to build a strong team, you must ensure that everyone gets equal treatment. Not only is it important for every individual to feel like their work matters and their contributions are valuable, but also important for the team members to view each others’ roles as important. While believing in one’s contribution creates a sense of purpose, believing in others’ abilities increases confidence and dependability.On the other hand, if individuals are not clear about the purpose of their work, their motivation to work decreases. When providing your team with assignments, make sure you clearly specify the purpose of their tasks and the duties that come with it.Therefore, it is important to find the “why” behind every task allocation. It gives direction on how to achieve the target.

5. Use Rewards To Recognize Efforts

   Research states that companies that display their gratitude (in any form) towards their employees, tend to have a happier workforce, more collaborative and stronger teams.Gratitude shown regularly by team leaders or managers towards the employees makes them feel better about themselves, increases their self-worth, and encourages them to work harder.Gratitude can be shown by writing meaningful notes or messages, sending out gifts or rewards, handing out badges, or via bonuses. Employees may also appreciate appreciation emails recognizing their efforts, or a fun celebratory cake.

With these strategies, you’re well on your way to creating a strong and effective employee recognition program.

NextBee helps companies build strong teams through tried and tested practices of over 10 years. Our team of experts help companies like yours reach their business goals, inculcate better organizational practices and improve employee well-being and retention.

If you want a personalized route to success, do give us a call. We’d be happy to assist you.