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Every group project has a lurker—a person who doesn’t contribute much but still gets the credit. If you’ve encountered someone like this, you know how difficult it can be to collaborate with them. This can become a big problem when there are important and urgent projects, which need a collective effort. Efficient and effective team dynamics can help with challenges related to how your colleagues or coworkers perform at the workplace.
Teamwork dynamics refer to the way you navigate different work styles of different people. While you may enjoy working on your own time, your coworker may follow strict schedules. In a team, it’s common to observe such differences. A manager, thus, needs to bring everyone on the same page.
If you don’t want to be the lurker in your team and give any project or task your best shot, you can get there. Just follow these helpful tips for improving team dynamics.
What Are Team Dynamics?
Team dynamics at the workplace define the ways in which you interact with other members. Such professional relationships are based on trust and respect for each other. Getting along with your team members is important if you want to achieve organizational goals.
Imagine if you were on bad terms with a coworker. Now, any time you’d need their help, you won’t be able to approach them. Not only will this affect your work, but may also affect the overall productivity of the team.
Understanding team dynamics is important to resolve workplace conflicts, build trust and ensure that work performance remains unaffected.
How To Improve Team Dynamics
Poor team dynamics can lead to poor results. For effective decision-making and better results, it’s important to pay attention to your team’s dynamics. Many tasks are interdependent, so to finish everything on time, each person must be clear about their roles and responsibilities. If two people aren’t getting along or if someone has to pick up the slack for a coworker, it can seriously impact your team’s performance. That is why such issues need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Here are some ways to improve team dynamics:
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Understand Individual Skills And Abilities
A strong team is one where you leverage individual skills to achieve collective goals. Different skills include interpersonal skills, communication skills and research or writing skills. Everyone should be assigned tasks that fit their skill set. This way, they’ll deliver better results and work efficiently.
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Build A Strong Rapport With Your Team
Rapport defines your relationship with your team members and how well you get along. To build a strong rapport, you need to first develop trust. Work relationships are based on trust so it’s important to rely on each other to get the job done. The importance of team dynamics is that it helps you build lasting and meaningful relationships at work.
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Navigate Different Work Styles
Being able to work with different types of people is a helpful skill in the workplace. Everyone works differently: some are more assertive, while others are more emotional. If you want to strike a balance between giving orders and working collaboratively, you have to understand different work styles. Listening to others can help you assess their specific needs and act accordingly.
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Resolve Conflicts Timely And Efficiently
When you encounter workplace conflicts like an argument between coworkers, the most effective way is to deal with them in a timely manner. This way they won’t affect your teamwork dynamics and help you move on from the situation. If you let a conflict fester, it can create a hostile environment for everyone on the team. So, it’s better to sit down, negotiate and try to reach a mutually acceptable outcome.
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Listen Well
Listening to what others have to say means registering their intent, meaning and the things they’re not saying directly. You have to gauge their actions and body language to truly understand their message. Sometimes we say more with our actions than our words. Listening well can help you build strong team dynamics. A team where people can talk to each other without feeling overwhelmed or burdened represents a healthy work culture.
Navigating your way through team dynamics and trying to make it work takes patience and experience. If you’re willing to understand your team members, you’re more likely to have a strong bond with each other. Harappa Education’s Managing Teamwork course will teach you how to improve team dynamics and the importance of team dynamics. With frameworks like the Social Styles model, you’ll learn about the various types of work styles in a team. Manage your team effectively and improve your performance with helpful tips from our expert faculty.
Explore topics such as Teamwork, Group Formation Stages, Cross Functional Teams, Team Building & Team Building Activities on the Harappa blog and learn to manage teams efficiently.
