Working in a team can be incredibly rewarding — or extremely frustrating. When team members clash and can’t agree on things, it can be difficult for said team to actually make progress. However, when a team collaborates well, supports each other, and strives toward a shared goal, they can achieve far more than they could individually. This is team cohesion in a nutshell.
A cohesive team can accomplish almost anything they set their minds to. Team members become more motivated, less stressed, happier, and more satisfied with their work. Knowing how to build such a team is an important skill for anyone involved in teamwork (especially if you’re running a business), though it can be challenging.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about building a cohesive team. From understanding the basics of team cohesion to learning key strategies for success, you’ll find all the information you need to create a unified team below. Let’s get started!
What is Team Cohesion?
There’s no one-size-fits-all definition for team cohesion, but at its core, it’s about how well team members collaborate and work together. It encompasses several different elements — like interpersonal relationships, common goals, and commitment to the group. When these aspects align, you get a cohesive team that’s ready to achieve its goals.
To give you an example, imagine your favorite sports team when they’re at their best. Every player has a specific role and gives their all to support the team and reach their goals. When the team is cohesive, they operate almost like a single organism, performing incredible feats on the field. The same principle applies to teams at work or in any other setting.
A cohesive team does its best work, with members supporting each other to achieve common goals. This is a significant advantage of having a cohesive team, but there are many more benefits. Before diving into how to build such a team, let’s explore some of these benefits.
The Benefits of Building a Cohesive Team
One of the main benefits of building a cohesive team is enhanced employee performance. When team members work together effectively, they can achieve far more than they could individually. In fact, studies show that teamwork and collaboration can boost sales by 27% and increase customer satisfaction by 41%. These are significant advantages that will positively impact your bottom line.
Another major benefit is increased productivity. Cohesive teams tend to be happier with their work, which directly translates to higher productivity levels. This substantial productivity boost is something every organization should strive for.
Additional benefits of team cohesion include higher retention rates and improved morale. Even if you prefer working alone, the numerous advantages of team cohesion are undeniable. Now, the question is, how do you build a cohesive team?
How to Build a Cohesive Team
Here are some tips for building a cohesive team. Creating a cohesive team can be challenging, but these tips can help improve your employees’ teamwork and bring your team closer together.
Communication
Do your team members communicate openly with each other? Do you communicate openly with your team members? Without good communication, team cohesion is impossible. Team members need to communicate openly, without fear of their ideas being dismissed or ridiculed. Open communication is important for several aspects of team cohesion.
As the leader of your team, you’re responsible for creating space for communication as well as emphasizing the importance of clear and frequent communication between your team members. Communication helps build strong relationships among team members by allowing them to learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Effective communication is also necessary for setting and working towards common goals.
Setting common goals
Having common goals is another critical element of a cohesive team. Goals unite the team around a shared purpose, making everyone work together toward the same actionable goals. Realistic, achievable goals can boost morale, improve relationships among team members, and increase productivity.
However, setting goals isn’t always straightforward. Goals must be realistic, achievable, and agreeable to everyone on the team. Knowing how to set these goals will be a key part of building team cohesion. If you’re unsure where to begin, consider using the SMART goals method. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. With well-defined common goals, your team will be well on its way to becoming more cohesive.
Accountability, trust, and respect
Accountability, trust, and respect are essential for building a cohesive team. Team members must feel they can trust and respect one another, as well as their leaders. Accountability is super important when it comes to fostering this trust and respect. When team members hold each other accountable, they build trust and respect among themselves.
They understand that everyone is adhering to the same standards and working towards the same goals. The same applies to management — leaders who hold themselves accountable demonstrate trust and respect for their teams.
Team building techniques
Team building activities are also essential for developing team cohesion. These activities focus on enhancing the skills needed for effective collaboration and strengthening the interpersonal relationships that make a team effective.
There are quite a few different team-building activities that are specifically designed to improve various aspects of teamwork and collaboration. These activities can target specific areas that need improvement and come in different forms (i.e. virtual events or in-person activities).
Signs That Your Team is Cohesive
Let’s take a look at some signs that your team is cohesive. If you don’t notice these signs, it might be time to reach out to Culture Partners for a consultation about building team cohesiveness. By building a more cohesive team, you can strengthen your company’s culture, too!
Trust is the team’s foundation
In cohesive teams, trust is the glue that holds everyone together. Team members can rely on each other, knowing that no one will let them down for personal gain. They can count on their colleagues in emergencies and are kept informed about significant organizational changes and updates that impact everyone.
Team over individual ambitions
In a strong team, personal ambitions take a back seat to the team’s well-being. Everyone shares the same vision and works collectively to achieve it. The focus is on “we” rather than “I,” with the organization’s goals taking first priority. There’s no room for internal competition, as it only distracts from achieving the desired results.
Productive conflicts
Disagreements and differing opinions are resolved through open discussions. Team members feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings, which means they’re able to make more informed decisions. Conflicts are not destructive; they are less emotionally charged and are a natural part of the collaborative process.
Every voice matters
Are you giving your team members plenty of opportunities to voice their thoughts and opinions? That’s great! When team members have a say in decision-making, they are more likely to commit to those decisions. Even if they don’t make the final call, feeling heard and valued helps them accept and support the outcome. This prevents the need to revisit issues over and over again.
Understanding the ripple effect
Members of cohesive teams hold themselves accountable for their contributions, knowing their actions affect the entire team. They understand that underperformance impacts everyone, and missed deadlines can trigger a chain reaction. This awareness drives them to ask for help when needed and to communicate openly about any issues they’re dealing with.
Final Thoughts
Building a cohesive team is more important than you might think, especially for businesses that depend on teamwork and collaboration. Teams that work well together are happier, more productive, and more effective. By emphasizing communication, shared goals, trust, accountability, and team-building activities, you can create a team that is set up for success.
Business leaders need to understand how team cohesion works and how it can energize the group. They must inspire their team members by creating a sense of belonging, empathy, and mutual respect, while also giving them some control and choice in their roles. When this supportive foundation is established, the team’s creativity and potential become limitless.
Let Us Shape Your Culture
If you’re struggling with team cohesion or aren’t sure where to start when it comes to building and shaping your company culture, you’re in the right place. At Culture Partners, we understand the difficulties of motivating team members and shaping a positive culture in the workplace. That’s why we want to help you through this process.
Feel free to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our senior partners. We want to hear about your company goals and help you work through any pain points that you, as a manager, might be going through. Hopefully, the tips outlined in this article will help you kick off the process of building a cohesive team, too!
Don’t wait to start building and shaping a positive culture and cohesive team. It’s going to take some time and effort, but that’s not a bad thing! Culture Partners is here to make this process even easier, too.