Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork.

Seems obvious, doesn’t it? But not all businesses take the time to foster an authentic team culture. Just leaving your team to it doesn’t always cut the mustard when it comes to delivering business-critical projects that involve plenty of problem solving. Your workers need a trusting and positive team ethic to get weighty projects out the door on time, in budget and within scope.

So, why does encouraging a stronger sense of teamwork bolster whole-team output? Here are 5 reasons:

1. A better understanding of objectives

Solid teamwork develops a strong sense of communication amongst colleagues. When your staff are working effectively together, it is far easier for them to discuss and understand the goals and objectives of the project or problem at hand.

With strong communication, the end goal becomes easier to define. Team members have the opportunity to work towards the objectives collectively. Typically, different team members will identify what problems need to be solved, and will gravitate towards these topics, putting skills where they are most needed.

2. Each team member can play a part

Everyone has an obvious (or hidden) talent. And, in a well-functioning team culture, each individual is given the scope and encouragement to contribute towards the bigger problem. This can contrast with projects that are driven and solved by an individual or by siloed teams.

If every project stakeholder has a defined role based on their strengths, and these intentions are made clear from the outset, it saves time and resources long-term.

3. Improved brainstorming

Staff that feel comfortable working and communicating together are far better at brainstorming. Why? When your team feels more at ease with each other, everyone feels confident to submit their ideas without risk of criticism.

The more ideas and suggestions that are put forward, no matter how zany, the better the overall project outcome will be.

4. Fostering trust

Solid and proven teamwork delivers trust. Aim for a business culture that encourages spontaneous collaboration and values collective output, rather than focusing on just hardworking individuals. Your staff will trust each other (and you) far more in that environment.

If you’ve failed to do so, you may develop a competitive team culture in which the role of the group is considered less important. The result? Employees are both unfamiliar and uncomfortable working together to tackle larger projects.

5. Success breeds success

Why not kick-start your team’s success by trying softer team building activities for them to tackle first? You could, for example, free up your staff from the office environment and facilitate an hour’s escape room experience instead.

What keeps people motivated? Success. And high-functioning teams are far more likely to be successful than siloed ones.

Escape Hunt has a number of live, immersive games dotted around the UK that encourage teams to think critically, and communicate more effectively. And, as your group gains confidence collaborating in such an environment, you can then serve up some of the heftier workplace projects for them to tackle.

Finally, encourage your team to celebrate! Workplace pressures are often more bearable when balanced with a feeling of accomplishment. The opportunity to share victories offers positive reinforcement for the benefits of working together to solve problems, and it gives your team a chance to let their hair down and get to know each other better, too.

Sounds better, don’t you think?