Today I’m submitting the 4th blog in our Character Commitment Series. I’ve spent the past several months writing a blog on each of Etech’s 12 Character Commitments that form the foundation of our organization. I’ve welcomed this opportunity to take the time to sit down and write about each trait. For me, it’s been a little bit of “getting back to the basics” as I’ve found myself renewing my own personal commitment to these traits and not just on the job, but in my personal life as well.
Getting back to the basics is always a good thing to do and today’s character trait is the very basic one of Teamwork. Teamwork is one of those words that has the potential to become very “cliché”. We hear it so often from coaches and managers but let’s take a look at the definition of TEAMWORK.
Noun: cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause.
That’s a pretty simple and straightforward definition, isn’t it? A group of people working together for a common interest or cause. It sounds so simple, but when there is a lack of teamwork, be it on an athletic team or in the corporate world, the results can be disastrous. On the other hand, coming together and being committed to a common cause or goal can yield amazing results that can be far-reaching in their benefits. But how do you do this? What are some key elements of building teamwork? I came across an article recently that identified ten principles of teamwork. You can check out the full article here, but I’d like to highlight what are the top five for me.
- The team understands the goals and is committed to attaining them. This, to me, is the foundation of team unity. The team must understand what the goal is and that everyone is equally committed to attaining it.
- Communication is open, honest and respectful. When people feel that their opinions matter and that they are heard, unity on the team is nurtured and maintained.
- Team members have a strong sense of belonging to the group. When a team has spent time together developing relationship guidelines, this enhances their overall commitment and sense of belonging.
- Team members are viewed as unique people with strengths and abilities they bring to the table that are unlike anyone else’s.
- Innovation, creativity and differing viewpoints are expected and welcomed. No one fears their ideas will be dismissed.
These particular traits of teamwork emerged as my favorites because they place value on the individual and their gifts, ideas and opinions. That is the foundation of teamwork: everyone is valued equally while their individual gifts and abilities are recognized and esteemed for what they bring to the team. When these elements are in place, the sky is the limit as to what any team can accomplish. As the great Packer Coach Vince Lombardi stated, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
This blog entry was written by Matt Rocco, President and General Manager of Etech Global Services. If you would like to learn more about Etech and our contact center technology and service solutions, please contact us at info@etechgs.com.
