Succeeding As A Team
Building a great team where everyone feels like a champ not only builds unbeatable work energy; it makes your whole organisation shine. And as a recent study shows, work joy can increase productivity by up to 12 percent! It’s true that a rising tide lifts all boats.
Helping workers to be confident in the workplace, then, isn’t just a nice thing to do, it’s a strategic play that improves productivity, creativity and innovation while making for happy colleagues.
How can you support your teams immediately?
Shoutouts and Kudos This one’s a no-brainer. Make your co-workers feel like superstars: recognise their hard work. To quote Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. Let your teams know they’re killing it with shout-outs in team meetings or even a simple thank-you note.
Be a Team Cheerleader Don’t think of confidence as a pie with limited slices. When you cheer on your colleagues, it creates a respect-filled culture and boosts the team’s overall confidence. As Michelle Obama said, “Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” Celebrate your colleagues and you contribute to team success.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Instead of obsessing over internal competition, highlight shared goals and celebrate joint successes. Teamwork brings out everyone’s strengths, facilitates co-workers learning from each other and fosters a supportive environment. To quote Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”.
Share the Knowledge Don’t side-step vulnerability: it might be your best form of leverage. When you step in as mentor and when you share your experience, include your failures along with the successes. The team will feel stronger and more capable, while each individual will feel more supported, competent and confident. It’s proven that you’ll also come across as more human and caring.
Want to Dive Deeper? Check out ‘Dare to Lead’ by Brené Brown and ‘Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success’ by Adam Grant for insights on leadership, trust, support and reciprocity.
Food for Thought: Take a moment to ask yourself: “How can I make my team feel like winners today?”