Organizations are all about their people and the collective goals they work towards every day.
Each member has their own place in the organization, and with their unique talents and specialized skill sets they put their best foot forward every day to achieve organizational and personal goals.
However, every victory is a product of the effort all the team members put in together.
To understand this better, you can think of a jigsaw puzzle. Each puzzle piece is diverse and uniquely shaped with talents and skills. On their own, they may seem disjoint but they all come together in the end to make a beautiful picture.
While putting the pieces together may require a lot of trial and error, when the pieces come together to make a masterpiece, it makes all of the effort worth it.
Let us look at how collaboration and teamwork can help organizations create a masterpiece:
The efficiency of its people and the organization as a whole increase by multifolds.
Teamwork facilitates the sharing of knowledge and skills. And when knowledge is shared, it empowers people.
The collective power of teams facilitates problem-solving, leading to a quicker solution.
A culture of collaboration and teamwork fosters a sense of camaraderie among employees, creating a positive and supportive work environment.
However, it is essential to establish that every workplace and employee working within those workplaces are different. Some employees may prefer to work by themselves, without collaborating with teams.
Let us understand how you can manage things if you encounter something similar in their working environment with a story.
Let’s take Alex’s example. He had a unique style of working and seemed to be a piece that didn't fit into the puzzle. Alex approached work like a lone wolf, avoiding any form of collaboration and teamwork. He preferred to keep his projects and ideas guarded.
The rest of the team that worked jointly and found it challenging to integrate Alex into their rhythm. They could see that he possessed valuable skills and ideas, but his reluctance to share and collaborate made it difficult for the team to unlock his full potential.
Alex’s manager, Lily decided to take the matter into their own hands. They tried to connect with Alex individually instead of pushing them to join the group. They got to know them, and their areas of expertise and pitched a project in which they could work together.
Alex experienced firsthand the benefits of teamwork and collaboration as the project progressed. They saw how the combined efforts of their collaboration resulted in better solutions and outcomes. It was as if their heart was slowly warming up to shared work.
Successfully completing the project transformed Alex, and from that day forward, Alex embraced collaboration and teamwork with open arms.
What worked for Lily and Alex, might for you as well.
With the help of empathy, patience, and even the willingness to build connections with individuals, you will also be able to navigate difficult situations like Lily did. Compassion can bring reluctant employees towards collaboration and teamwork, enriching everyone's workplace experience.