Being a Team Is Much More Than a Name Change

By Michael T. Tamm, CPA

Recently, managers and leaders have decided to use the word ‘team’ or ‘team members’ instead of ‘staff’ or ‘employees’. The catch phrase ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’ (T.E.A.M.) has become popular – and for good reason.

Think about the team involvement you have experienced over the years at school, through sports or even think about your family as a team – haven’t those teams been meaningful? Didn’t you want to contribute something of value to your team and your teammates? It may have meant extra workouts; time spent practicing over and over again and more. Didn’t the success of the team mean more to you in some cases than your own needs?

That same passion and drive can be created within your business ‘team’ when the same spirit and principles are utilized in the work environment.

For instance, principles like respecting the rules of the game, good sportsmanship and understanding our roles as players, coaches and assistants can be incorporated into a business team. Others such as respecting and harnessing each team member’s various skills and strengths (rather than focusing on weaknesses), moving on from mistakes without wasting time on who is at fault, keeping our eye on the ball and good communication, to name a few, can truly strengthen a workplace team.

Naturally, it takes more to create a team than changing a term such as designating staff ‘team members’ and giving them an assignment. Successful teams are infused with an energizing spirit that draws the participants together into a cohesive unit and has everyone pulling together to reach a common goal. There are many ways to help instill a sense of teamwork in a team, including group challenges, team-building exercises, and the promotion of a team culture. The ultimate result is an organization where the whole truly adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

To give your team the motivation it might need, here are some time-tested energizers:

1. Lead by example- be enthusiastic, encouraging and motivating.
2. Take team members from different levels and areas to lunch and ask what they would change in the organization, how they’d change it and why it should be initiated.
3. Communicate the appropriate information to all team members all of the time.
4. Encourage team members to improve one process, procedure, or aspect of their job every day. (This helps your business achieve constant and never-ending improvement.)
5. Agree to conduct personal and professional lives in a manner that will bring credit to your team members, their families, and the company at all times.
6. Send a problem or challenge out to all team members and ask for their suggestions on how to solve it.
7. Give your team guidelines for saying "yes" to clients or customers and the resources to do it.
8. Break down barriers between departments. One way to do this is create project teams to solve various issues.
9. Encourage every team member to take risks, exercise initiative, delivery quality results and never be afraid to make mistakes.
10. Create a supportive environment that nurtures professional and personal growth.
11. Do what you say you’re going to do – and more!
12. And finally, while you’re building a great company – have fun! And to make sure that it is, actively be aware of how much fun your team is having at work.

Adopting the spirit and principles of a winning team is a game plan sure to bring success to any work environment.

Michael T. Tamm is a shareholder with Echelbarger, Himebaugh, Tamm & Co., P.C. (EHTC). He specializes in the areas of tax, business planning and personal financial planning. He has worked closely with business owners in the areas of strategic planning, executive compensation, succession planning, and operational issues. He may be reached at 616.575.3482 or miket@ehtc.com