As the world of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the needs and motivations of workers are transforming in tandem. Work is about more than just a paycheck; it’s about working together to achieve something greater for oneself and others. To adapt to such shifts, organizations of all sizes need to break down traditional, hierarchical structures and foster engagement.
The future of work lies in the capable hands of dynamic teams in an environment that celebrates connection and collaboration. An organization’s approach to learning and development (L&D) must rise to meet these changing tides, applying a nuanced understanding of how to train and guide agile teams to unlock their full potential.
Today’s workforce looks vastly different than yesterday’s. With the tight labor market continuing to fuel the war for talent, employers are reevaluating their teams and seeking alternative hiring solutions. Companies are increasingly looking to meet their talent needs by supplementing their staff with highly specialized gig workers, former employees and retirees who can support nimble work. Additionally, job roles and job descriptions are shifting as workers look to chart their course within an organization and define their own careers.
The result of these shifts is a team that is diverse in makeup and dynamic in approach. To guide such teams to success, consider the following strategies.
Support More Than Just the Team
Being able to foster a team’s growth requires an understanding of the individuals driving its performance. It’s important to remember that teams are made up of people with unique passions and drives. Modern teams are built across silos, drawing on diverse talent to inspire the type of innovation that can only stem from a melting pot of ideas and approaches. To lead a team to success, you must be intentional in cultivating the talents of each team member as well as the team itself.
Set Clear Goals and Communicate Transparently
To avoid having differing ideas about what success looks like, develop goals at the outset, and communicate them clearly across the team. Goal-setting helps to unify everyone around performance and creates well-defined expectations and roles, preventing confusion or potential crossover in responsibilities down the line.
Be Proactive in Conflict Resolution
When you have a group of people working closely together with different ideas and working styles, conflicts can arise. Address any issues early in the team’s development to avoid bigger obstacles that build over time. Working on a team requires getting to know each member, learning about his or her unique approach, and hitting a stride in working together.
Train the Team in Team Dynamics
Making sure each member knows how to be part of a team will go a long way in enhancing the group’s performance. Ensure that team managers model the kinds of behavior you want to encourage, and implement team training. Focus on key components for success, like trust and communication, and continue to build upon them.
Implement Regular Pulse Checks
Regular feedback is important to understand what’s working, what’s not working, where you’ve seen successes, and where there might be gaps in performance or ability. Sharing that information across the team helps members learn from each other’s trials and successes and implement what they learn to drive efficiency.
Leverage Technology for Collaboration
Even though work is often done on teams, human capital management (HCM) solutions have not been structured in a way that supports dynamic teamwork — but they’re changing. The future of work lies in a flat working structure that unlocks the potential of dynamic teams. Leverage new technology to gain insights, communicate, collaborate and support.
Celebrate Team Wins
Rather than creating a hierarchical structure, celebrate team wins together. Praise each member for his or her individual contributions toward the team’s shared success to help foster an engaged and collaborative team culture.
Teams are revolutionizing the way we work. By challenging each other and working together toward shared goals and performance, employees and businesses alike are unlocking their full potential and driving innovation. To maintain a competitive advantage amid talent shortages and changing market conditions, businesses must transform organizational structure to foster agile teams and provide the support needed for everyone to succeed.
