Team synergy is all about amplifying the collective output of a team, and about understanding that each person’s contribution to the workplace helps the team add up to more than the sum of its parts. To create team synergy, teams need to be in sync with one another, communicating and collaborating towards a common goal. Synergised teams play a key role in achieving organisational objectives and contributing towards a positive workplace culture.
The foundations of team synergy
To reap the rewards of team synergy, we need to put some work into cultivating it in the first place.
We can do this by building trust within our teams. Trust is the bedrock of team synergy; we cannot reach the end goal of a synchronised team without it. When we have established trust within our team, through working together, team building, and encouraging open communication, we allow everyone to bring their full selves to work - and with this, their full potential.
A team is lost without a clear direction and sense of purpose. In a study by Salesforce, 97% of workers surveyed said lack of alignment was the biggest factor in producing poor outcomes. Establishing clear goals is crucial for aligning team efforts, enabling everyone to pull together in the same direction. When a leader has communicated a vision to their team and outlined the steps needed to get there, each team member has a better chance of understanding how their skills and experience are needed to get the team to the end goal. With this sense of purpose, both individually and as a unit, team synergy is within reach.
We should also remember to embrace inclusivity when attempting to create team synergy. Diversity in skills, perspectives, and backgrounds enhances creativity, problem-solving, and innovation in a way that homogenous teams can’t keep up with.
Strategies to enhance team synergy
With the foundations of team synergy established, we can next look to deploy a few smart strategies to enhance it further. We can do this by:
Facilitating effective communication
Team leaders should play an active role in improving communication across their teams. They can do this by understanding the communication styles within their team and encouraging their team to pay attention to each other - psychometric assessments can improve awareness on this point, and can even be used at the interview stage to help make the right hire.
Managers can also ensure their team is provided with a range of communication channels that are suited to their needs, and make clear which channels should be used for what form of communication. Open communication and active listening should be encouraged, ensuring all team members are heard, understood, and valued.
Encouraging collaboration and participation
To further improve team synergy, teams need to be given opportunities to come together as a unit and collaborate. Brainstorming sessions, cross-departmental projects, and working groups to support internal processes all offer individuals the chance to participate and show off their skills. Through taking part in group sessions like this, teams learn how to leverage the unique skills of each team member and who to turn to for specific solutions.
Recognising and celebrating achievements
Taking the time to recognise wins and milestones is very important to team synergy. Not only do those who contributed feel valued for their work, but the moment taken to celebrate an achievement helps teams bond. We should acknowledge both individual and team achievements to reinforce positive behaviours and keep motivation levels high. Teamwork is a shared experience, so everyone should be included in marking these victories.
Overcoming challenges to team synergy
Even once we feel like we’ve provided the right environment for team synergy and are starting to see the results of our work, we must be prepared for any challenges that could affect the careful balance we’ve struck.
When conflict arises, which happens even in the most productive teams, team leaders must recognise and address it constructively. If conflict and the cause of that conflict are ignored, people can be left feeling unheard and undervalued. Ethical leaders know how to mediate fairly for the good of individuals and the workplace, ensuring team synergy isn’t affected.
This segues nicely onto the next potential challenge team synergy might face: competing interests and priorities. A well-rounded manager knows how to listen to the diverse voices in their team, and how to prioritise for the good of the team and results. They can cut through the noise and keep their team focused on common objectives, all while communicating the thinking behind these decisions so no one feels left behind.
Teams thrive when their constituent parts are encouraged to keep learning and improving. Development plans motivate people and give them clear stepping stones toward advancement - millennials now make up the largest segment of the global workforce, and 45% of them value career advancement, so we must show them how to make it possible. Our organisations benefit from this too, as, when people continue to upskill alongside their work, they are better equipped to adapt to new challenges, helping their team through tough times.
Leveraging Thomas’s expertise in building team synergy
Understanding team dynamics is another key factor in promoting team synergy. Personality and behaviour assessments can shed light on how your team operates, facilitating better teamwork and synergy. Informed by these insights, Thomas can put together a bespoke schedule of training and workshops designed to enhance team synergy. This includes leadership training, as strong leadership is so key to developing team synergy, alongside team-building activities. Our programmes nurture a culture of continuous growth, learning, and development within teams.
Sustaining team synergy for long-term success
With effective communication, collaboration, trust, and a clear vision - and celebrating our team’s achievements along the way - we can build team synergy. It’s an ongoing effort, one that needs commitment from every team member and leader.
To help build and sustain team synergy for the long term, consider Thomas' tools and services. Get to know your teams better, and train your managers to be the best leaders they can be.
Team synergy is essential to unlocking a team’s full potential, driving innovation, and achieving excellence - and we can make it happen.
