{"id":46624,"date":"2021-02-11T16:49:18","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T00:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=46624"},"modified":"2025-03-13T06:08:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T13:08:38","slug":"5-tips-to-improve-teamwork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/5-tips-to-improve-teamwork\/","title":{"rendered":"5 tips to improve teamwork"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been almost a year since the COVID-19 pandemic sent us home from the office. With employees working remotely, there are no longer the face-to-face interactions with colleagues and collaborations we were accustomed to. For many of us, it\u2019s been an entirely new way of working.<\/span><\/p>\n

We suddenly, unexpectedly, had to figure out how to get the work done from various locations, sometimes using different tools.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet despite our siloed work lives, we\u2019ve never been more connected. Communicating via team messaging and video conferencing is working. Studies show <\/span>remote workers<\/span><\/a> are more productive now than they were pre-pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teamwork is different now<\/b><\/h2>\n

Team building in 2021 won\u2019t be the same as in the past. We\u2019re still figuring out how to best encourage and promote teamwork among employees working remotely, whether full- or part-time.<\/span><\/p>\n

We know remote working is likely to continue even after the pandemic ends<\/span>. <\/span>PwC\u2019s <\/span>U.S. Remote Work Survey<\/span><\/a>, published in January 2021, found that remote work has been overwhelmingly successful for both employers (83%) and employees (73%). Less than one in five executives say they want to return to how things used to be, and more than half of employees want to continue working remotely at least three days a week post-COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet 97% of both executives and employees agree a poorly <\/span>aligned team<\/span><\/a> negatively impacts a project\u2019s outcome. And highly engaged teams are 21% more <\/span>profitable<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those are striking statistics, especially when our teams are not working together in the same office. With continued remote and hybrid work<\/a> ahead of us, it\u2019s clear we need to focus on successful collaboration and teamwork going forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nIs your business ready to go remote? Take the free remote readiness quiz to find out.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Here are five ways for leaders to build stronger teams in 2021:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Establish clear goals and responsibilities<\/b><\/h2>\n

The goal of improving teamwork is to achieve the company\u2019s bottom line, but you can\u2019t do that unless they\u2019re clearly defined. Make sure you know just what each employee should accomplish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When describing an employee\u2019s specific role, try to avoid detailing exactly how they should achieve those goals. Instead, rely on the people you\u2019ve selected and their knowledge of their jobs. Trust them to do what you hired them for, and you\u2019ll often see better results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Make effective communication easy<\/b><\/h2>\n

Remote workers can become siloed and isolated. Businesses need communication systems that are comfortable to use and make communicating easy, so this doesn\u2019t happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unified communications<\/span><\/a> systems combine messaging, video, and phone so employees can easily choose whichever mode of communication feels right for the situation. Workers use communications more when they are part of the same app. When communications methods are on different platforms, there can be mental roadblocks about switching, which means they are less likely to be used. The result? Lower productivity and teamwork.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Avoid excess meetings<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sometimes when we can\u2019t meet in person, we\u2019re tempted to schedule more video meetings instead\u2014usually more than necessary. However, study after study shows that too many video calls<\/a> can be counterproductive. <\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure you use video meetings in the smartest ways possible. For example:<\/span><\/p>\n