Employers expect their employees to be team players; it’s a requirement for almost every industry. Even if you feel you work better independently, try using teamwork to better yourself and your career. What can working together do for you? Here are four ways teamwork benefits you in the workplace:
It will Promote your Creativity and Learning
Whether you are a creative thinker by nature or not, working as a team will enhance your creativity skills. Working as a group will prevent stale or one-minded viewpoints and often, combining unique perspectives created more effective solutions.
In addition, your team members have had entirely different learning experience from you, and you have a completely different experience from them. Shared knowledge in the workplace helps you learn new skills you can leverage the rest of your career.
It will Build Trust
It's rare to find a company that runs solely by one person. It's likely you count on others to do their job, just as they count on you to do yours. Teamwork necessitates confidence in each other’s distinct abilities. It establishes a stronger relationship between coworkers and will only benefit you in the long run. Working together, and trusting one another, teaches employees that wins and losses affect everyone on the team.
It will You Teach Conflict Resolution
If you're looking to grow your career, one of the key skillsets needed for leadership is conflict resolution. Conflicts inevitably happen in the workplace. Employees often come from unique backgrounds and have different work styles. In a team-oriented setting, employees are forced to resolve the conflict themselves. Learning to navigate conflicts is a skill you can use to be an efficient manager down the road.
It Encourages Healthy Risk Taking
When working independently, employees are less likely to stick their neck out and suggest an out-of-the-box idea. Because if that idea happens to fail, they would take the full blame. Working as a team allows you to take risks with the support of others. It also allows you to gain other perspectives and make your idea even better.
While you may want to rise to the top on your own it's likely you can't do it without the help of others. So why not take advantage of the positive aspects of teamwork? Don't let competitive nature get in the way of your personal growth. Learn from your team members and build on each other's skills to create even more impressive results.