"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships,” said five-time NBA’s Most Valuable Player Michael Jordan.
Team members work effectively when they trust one another. When they search for help and share information, they want their team to trust them. When they want to reach a common goal, they need a team to be as successful as possible. And it’s the leaders job to create that relationship, manifesting communication and collaboration at all levels.
Develop Cooperative Goals and Roles
For any team to be successful and have a positive experience, there must be a shared goal that provides a reason for being together. A single person cannot build a quality car, eradicate a disease, or start an institution. It requires a team! If the goal is to help children attain valuable education, and a team realizes that need and has a drive to achieve the goal, then they will have the motivation to work together by any means possible. The most important ingredient in the recipe of collective success is a shared value.
For positive teamwork to emerge, a leader must create a sense of interdependence -- the feeling that one cannot succeed unless everyone else succeeds. To do so, the leader must first question their team members’ purpose of being part of the team and any suggestion they have. To create interdependence, the leader must create trust between all team members. Since trust is contagious, its the easiest way to develop a positive experience.
Support Norms of Reciprocity
Effective long-term relationships are based on the foundation of reciprocity, the practice of exchanging something with others for mutual benefit. In negative experiences where a partner would always give and the other always takes, creates a climate with no trust and cooperation.
When you treat others with respect, they will treat you the same way. It’s easily framed by the quote “What goes around comes around.” And that’s exactly true. If you want to be part of an organization that practices successful cooperation and builds lasting relationships, you must trust others.
Final Thoughts
People are more likely to trust one another if the results of cooperation outweigh those of independent work. Think of it like a soccer team: It’s not a one-on-eleven sport. It’s not a one-on-five in basketball. Nor is it a one-on-six in hockey. These sports require team effort and same goes for organizations. Cooperative behaviour demonstrates that individuals excel and grow more by working together rather than alone.
Note: All knowledge and ideas are attained from the book"The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations 5th Edition". This blog summarizes the content from the book, but may unintentionally contain the same wording.
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