Teams with well-developed teamwork skills significantly reduce psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
They create a safer workplace because they develop the skills to foster psychological safety, have open communication, be supportive, and build robust relationships.
These socially and psychologically strong teams mitigate risks like stress, bullying, and lack of support. These teams create a place that supports good mental health as well as productivity.
Here's how strong teams create safer workplaces:
Enabling open and constructive communication - this allows team members to voice concerns, offer feedback, and call out issues without fear of judgement or reprisal.
Creating supportive relationships - this enables team members to feel valued and supported by each other. With this support they are more likely to seek help when needed and contribute to a positive and collaborative atmosphere.
Addressing conflict constructively - through good ways of managing conflict constructively, they prevent issues festering and escalating. They seek to understand each other and resolve issues effectively.
Having agreed ways to collaborate and support each other - this reduces stress by better managing workloads, deadlines, and conflicting demands.
Building trust and valuing respect - this creates a culture that is supportive and reliable. A culture that is inclusive and free of bullying or harassment.
Ensuring clarity in roles, responsibilities and team expectations - clarity reduces confusion and anxiety. It allows everyone to understand expectations and be accountable for their responsibilities.
Focussing on collaboration and inclusivity - this allows people to feel safe, supported, and valued. With this they are more likely to be engaged, productive and contribute actively.
Creating a place where people speak up and are heard - this takes the difficult out of difficult conversations and allows people to voice their thoughts, feelings, and ideas without fear of judgement.
Focusing on teamwork as much as on task work - this creates a positive and supportive environment. It fosters loyalty and increases engagement. It creates a strong and stable team.
When we work with teams we facilitate their development to become strong, supportive, and impact focused teams. We help them develop their team skills and co-create a set of shared values so they can focus on what is important for them. We ensure they are aligned with a clear and compelling purpose where they connect their individual work to a purposeful and engaging mission.
What we witness through our work with for-purpose teams, their leaders, and their organisations is a powerful amplification of impact. Teams develop the strength, resilience and a platform of safety that enables them to work more cohesively to create better outcomes and greater impact.
If you want a safer workplace that creates a foundation for delivering greater impact, invest in developing strong teams.
Connect with us today to discuss how to bring the collective advantage to your organisation.