"Goals and Roles" Pace Towards Team Success

Have you ever been a member of a high performing, smooth running team? A team that set a goal so unimaginable, and achieved it? It was probably an experience you are likely never to forget. Most likely within your team people trusted one another, worked cooperatively, enjoyed the task at hand and achieved that goal that was set ever so high. Clear goals is a very successful key towards successful team work. Clear goals are critical to ensure that everyone on the team is heading in the same direction. Much time, money and energy are put into projects and tasks, and can be all wasted if everyone on the team isn't reaching for the same goal/outcome. Without goals in a team, not everyone will be on the same page and a task/project will not be completed to best of everyones ability. This happens because without a distinguished goal, how do you know when to stop? How will each team member know when enough is enough? With a goal posted up for everyone to recognize, almost unachievable, with hard work and dedication your team will be on top by reaching it.

Defined roles help teams organize and clear cut who is in charge of which tasks. Usually members of a team have a fairly clear idea of what their roles are in order to complete the project. Roles helps individuals set their own goals and strive towards them. When a major project is given, each person clarify's what task they want to complete and work on the task at hand. Depending on the size of the group, titles should be given to each individual.  Example shown below:

Simple questions should be asked among your team.

• Who is going to take charge, lead the project?
• Who is going to organize the tasks, keep people on task?
• Who will evaluate assignments, and completed work? Will it work within the task, will it reach the set goal?
• Who will tie the project together, who says the project is complete?

Many more question should be asked within deciding roles. Having a distinguished role doesn't mean that person cannot take part on other tasks. This is more of a title, so each team member knows who to go to if they have questions or concerns , or something revised. There are many steps to completing a well rounded team. Creating a goal, and assigning roles will send team in the proper direction. Remember when setting a goal, that everyone agrees on it, and it is something hard to reach but realistically reachable. Re-access everyones role, and gather each member to check in, call a short meeting, and you will soon find your team on the path to success.  

Importance of Team Work and Why is it Beneficial?

Can you imagine yourself working on a major project alone in the office/workplace, and no one out there to support and assist you? Definitely a lot harder doing things alone then in groups. We all love to be part of a team and accomplish large tasks and projects, and the feeling we get as an end result of completing it. Teamwork takes place in the everyday working world, and is often needed in order to complete some projects employee's are assigned, because face it, bouncing ideas off yourself is not as beneficial as turning to your teammate and spitballing ideas back and fourth. 

5 brains, and 10 hands are better then just 1

Teamwork is defined as an activity or a set of inter-related activities done by more than one person in order to achieve the common objective, the end result. My blog is directed more towards teamwork in the business world and workplace, however it is not only followed only in the corporate world toady, rather it is one of the oldest things known to man. Just to give you an example, think back to grade 7 and 8 history class when you learned about the World Wars, did soldiers go out individually? Did they enter the enemies turf by themselves, or as a team?  Do NHL players win the Stanley Cup by themselves, or as a team? We all have learned about the importance of teamwork, because face it, it is used everywhere, everyday, and in every business.

In grade 12, I had a co-op placement in the Haldimand County Marketing Department. My task was completing the County souvenirs catalogue, taking pictures and building a new book. You may read this, and think, what's the importance to a successful teams blog page? Let me tell you, the very first thing my employer told me when I sat down with him to discuss the tasks I would be given was "TEAM". I looked at him very confused, and asked what does that mean? He said to me - "Together, Everyone, Achieves, More". I sat there for a second and smiled, and realized how right he was. Two brains are better then one. I have heard that term numerous times since, whether it be at my co-op placement, school, my part time job at Dairy Queen, or the gym, teamwork is everywhere. Throughout my blog, I tend to enlighten you on the key characteristics of a successful team, and how teamwork is probably the most beneficial skill to have in order for key success.     

- The importance of Teamwork and Cooperation, because it will only benefit you.