In August, we asked our readers to vote on the number one reason teamwork in the workplace fails. And with 29% of the votes, “Poor Communication” was picked as the most destructive force when it comes to working in teams. Coming in at a close second was “Poor Leadership” with 26% of the votes.
The rest of the results ranked as follows:
- Disengaged team members (18%)
- Unclear goals/strategies (17%)
- One-upmanship (5%)
Another 4% of respondents selected “Other” and submitted their own thoughts on the top reasons teamwork fails, including:
- Lack of trust
- Everyone likes to talk, but few like to listen
- Negativity
- Ideas chosen based on contributors popularity within group
- Cliques forming within the larger group
Essential Characteristics of Great Teams
Great teamwork is an essential part of successful, productive companies. In a recent Refresh Leadership post, we outlined a few of the key characteristics great teams share, including:
Strong Leadership: A team leader carries the heavy responsibility of ensuring everyone works well together, contributes to overall goals, and stays on task.
Common Goals: Without an agreement on purpose, a team cannot work in unison.
Diversity: Multiple points of view of the same problem can help shed light on potential paths to success.
Trust: Great teamwork hinges on mutual respect.
Check out the full article: 4 Essential Characteristics of a Successful Team
What are some other reasons teamwork fails? Do you have any examples of best practices for building a productive team? Let us know in the comments section below.
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