Over the next several weeks we will revisit an article titled Ten Ways to Create a Positive Work Environment. Each week we will examine some of the suggestions from this article for bringing and consistently maintaining more positivity on our teams.
4. Create Team Spirit
One of our basic human needs is to feel we belong to something bigger than ourselves, and for many people that need is met by being part of a supportive work group. As a team leader, part of your job is to create a feeling of unity among your staff. This unity will help your team members feel valued and that they belong. As a result they will want to be at work, tardiness and absenteeism will be minimal, your team will function smoothly and your team will be better able to carry out the missions and goals of our school.
To foster this team feeling you must convey to the entire team that every person plays an important role. Encourage an attitude of cooperation rather than competition. When you create team spirit and identity, staff members will see themselves as a group of people all working for a common goal, rather than a bunch of individuals competing with each other.
By letting each member know they are a valued part of the team you will teach your staff members to respect each other for their unique contributions. There are many group exercises designed to foster this kind of unity. One easy exercise is to begin team meetings by going around the table and having each person say one nice thing about the person on their right or left. Especially things they've noticed about their work with students. . Be sure to acknowledge the little things that mean so much to the students, their families and coworkers that are the mark of an excellent team member.
An important aspect of creating team spirit is demonstrating that you are open to communication from everyone, including students, families and team members. When you walk through the hall be sure you smile, are friendly, and acknowledge people you pass. You should always show that you are aware of and care about each person. This will demonstrate to them that you are aware of them as people, and are also aware of what's happening on the team. By doing this you will also demonstrate that you are willing to listen and are responsive to their needs.
Another exercise you can do with your staff to increase their appreciation of each other and feeling of team spirit is called Skill Appreciation. In this exercise team members recognize and appreciate each other for the unique skills each brings to the team. Take time at one of your team meetings to focus on this aspect. Give each person a 3 x 5 card and ask them to write their name at the top. Have each person place their card on the table in front of them, and then move one place to the right so they're sitting in front of their neighbor's card. Then ask them to write words of appreciation on the card of the co-worker, including positive personal characteristics, attitudes and skills they bring to the team. Examples may be things like:
1. Ability to relate well with students and families.
2. Creativity.
3. Ability to organize well.
4. Having a positive attitude and kind word for everyone, etc.
Have team members continue moving around the table and writing on cards until they are back at their original place.
There are many other ways a team leader can foster team spirit. Some of these are:
- Give verbal and written communication to individuals and the group for jobs well done.
- Make sure team members know a bit about each other's personal life by setting aside 5 minutes at each staff meeting to have one person tell about something positive that's happened in their life in the past month.
- Find reasons to celebrate together, such as birthdays, birth of a baby or grandchild, moving into a new house, etc., and have small parties to celebrate these events. It's especially good to share your celebration with all the teams by inviting others to join you or putting up a sign or banner in the break room saying "Today We Are Celebrating……………". By celebrating together you will be connecting the entire staff.
- Let them know that you are also part of the team by asking your staff what they need from you to make their job more satisfactory, and doing your best to provide it.
- Schedule stretch exercises that you do together before school. Have different staff members lead the exercises each day.
- Ensure that humor is part of the daily work environment. Put a humor section on the bulletin board and invite team members to post things they find funny (keeping good taste in mind, of course). Also, encourage them to respectfully find the humor in situations at work. It's important for you as the supervisor to learn to laugh at yourself, and model this for your staff. Let them know that since we all are human we make mistakes. It's much better to find the lesson and humor in mistakes than to become upset over them.
Please comment and share 3 additional ways you have or could build team spirit.
