In a kitchen and bath firm, we first learn about design, products, marketing, selling and finance. We tend to neglect the fact that, at the very core, organizations are about people and the relationships they develop, the teamwork that makes individuals into a community and motivates them to do more. This month, I want to focus on the benefits of teamwork and what you can do to inspire and develop the motivational power of teams.

I’m prompted to touch on this subject because two of my consulting clients recently experienced situations where teamwork fell apart. Both companies were experiencing too much “I” and not enough “we.” My advice for regaining that great feeling of teamwork was to start at the top.

In another words, you, the “boss,” must be the visionary, strategist and motivator.

The Human Side

Two of the most powerful motivators for accomplishing challenging work are trying to make a difference, and the opportunity to work closely with others to achieve a goal. Put these two things together and you have the potential for a high performing team.

When building teamwork within your organization, you must be motivated and motivating. Only when you understand how people interrelate can you inspire team spirit and increase the motivation that drives your team.

In order to meet your employees’ basic need of being cared about, you must genuinely care – and show them that you care. This will motivate them to work harder and smarter.

Showing you care about people is not expensive; in fact, it doesn’t cost your business anything. It often requires only a minimum amount of energy. Yet, it can greatly build up the most important assets of your company – human assets.

Managers who care:

• Inspire their employees to work harder;
  
• Make their employees feel good about the work they’re doing;
  
• Find out what their employees are really good at;
  
• Ask their employees what they’d like to do;
  
• Encourage the team to do more than all of its members could do as individuals;
  
• Work with their employees as colleagues, not over them as a boss;
  
• Excite employees about doing things they never considered;
  
• Treat people fairly, firmly and consistently;
  
• Listen to what their employees have to say;
  
• Build teamwork among workers and management.

In other words, a manager who cares about employees inspires them to care about what they’re doing – and they will then become more motivated to achieve.