PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418

Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

Teamwork Skills: Definition and Example

Teamwork skills are essential to your success at work, no matter your

industry or job title. Working well with clients, colleagues, managers and other
people in your workplace can help you complete tasks efficiently while creating
an enjoyable environment both for yourself and others. An organization is that
emphasizes good teamwork skills is typically a healthy, high-functioning
workplace.
In this article, we take a closer look at what teamwork skills are, how you can
improve them and other soft skills that can help you be a good teammate.
What are teamwork skills?
Teamwork skills are the qualities and abilities that allow you to work well with
others during conversations, projects, meetings or other collaborations.
Having teamwork skills is dependent on your ability to communicate well,
actively listen and be responsible and honest. There are many other
additional soft skills that can help you be an exceptional teammate at work..
6 Tips for Effective Teamwork…

1. Create a productive work environment

Each team-based project will thrive in a different work environment depending
on its team members, goals and deliverables. Begin your project by tailoring
the physical space you occupy to meet your needs. When creating this space,
think about tools you may require, access to contributors or stakeholders
outside of your team and the time you will need to occupy the space.
Example: If you are working on a creative task that needs input from all
members, find a room that will allow your team to maximize communication
without affecting the rest of the workplace. Make sure your co-workers have
all the tools they need to begin the project. If brainstorming is a key
component of the project, make sure you have a physical or digital whiteboard
available. For a project where team members meet occasionally to review
individual work, a short standup in a common area may be a better fit.
2. Identify a clear purpose
Effective teamwork needs a defined goal. You can create a clear purpose by
forming a mission statement, key performance indicator (KPI) or deliverable.
A unified goal allows work to remain focused and helps with prioritization of
your team's resources.
Clarifying why you are undertaking the project is just as important as
developing the deliverable, goal or mission statement. This helps your team
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

understand their roles and the purpose of the project, which can support long-
term motivation.
Example: Once you have your work environment set up, begin your process
by defining your purpose and goals as a team. A great way to approach this is
to brainstorm a mission statement and write it out next to your team's
deliverable. Make the mission statement and goal visible so your team will
keep them in mind while they work on the project.
3. Communicate openly
Open, honest and respectful communication is vital to effective teamwork.
Team members need to feel comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions
so each individual contributes to their full potential. Clear communication leads
to more trust among team members and breaks down barriers that can slow
down a team's work.
To set a foundation for strong communication, establish expectations and best
practices. This includes when and how you should use different methods of
communication such as emails, online messaging, phone calls and in-person
meetings.
Example: If you have an ongoing project, schedule short meetings to review
progress. Give every team member equal time to relay their wins and losses.
Set aside time for the group to help solve problems an individual is facing or
give constructive feedback. You might explain that you will be using chats to
discuss day-to-day work and a weekly email to communicate important
learnings.
4. Recognize your team members
Recognition can help your fellow team members remember the importance of
their role in the project and increase morale. Both team leaders and individual
contributors should give positive feedback by noting exceptional work or
praising a valuable idea. Recognizing your coworkers as you work toward a
common goal can help motivate the entire team.
Example: During your scheduled meetings, plan time to recognize the
successes of team members. Base these affirmations on milestones so team
members understand what they have achieved and so other members know
what work they should model going forward. The benchmarks can be small—
you do not need to limit recognition to major achievements.
5. Be creative
It is important to exercise your creativity and support the creativity of others
during team-based projects. This includes taking and supporting risks.
Creative problem solving and experimentation are vital concepts to engage in
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

as a group. Doing so can utilize everyone's unique perspectives to create more

thorough processes and solutions.
Example: Set aside time for brainstorming sessions. Brainstorming as a group
allows for multiple solutions to one problem. Consider every suggestion a
member makes regardless of how unconventional they seem. The more ideas
your group explores, the more likely you are to find a solution.
6. Meet outside the workplace
While you may have tailored your work environment to meet all of your team's
needs, sometimes team members feel more comfortable in a setting outside of
work. Meetings outside of the workplace also allow coworkers to build rapport
which can increase creativity. Taking time out of the office can also lead to the
team growing closer as a unit. This will help you work together toward a
common goal.
Example: Have a group lunch or meet at a coffee shop. You can start the
meeting with a few short team-building exercises to help get everyone more
comfortable and open for discussion. Depending on the length of your project,
you may want to schedule a recurring event, such as a team lunch every two
weeks to discuss new ideas and give recognition to individual team members.
Why are teamwork skills important?
You will be required to work alongside others in every industry at every level
in your career. Doing so in an empathetic, efficient and responsible manner
can help you accomplish career goals, grow your resume and contribute
positively to your organization. It can also help you build rapport with
others. Building rapport can lead to deeper working relationships, new
connections and possibly new opportunities.
Examples of teamwork skills
Teamwork skills are made up of many other soft skills you can work to
develop over time. Here are just a few examples of qualities that can help you
improve your teamwork skills:

• Communication: The ability to communicate in a clear, efficient way is

a critical teamwork skill. When working with others, it is important that
you share relevant thoughts, ideas and key information. There are many
different types of communication skills including both verbal and
nonverbal.

• Responsibility: Within the dynamic of teamwork, it is important that

the parties involved both understand the work they are responsible for
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

and make the effort to complete said tasks on time and up to the
expected standard. With the entire team functioning properly by taking
responsibility for their own work, they can work together towards a
common goal.

• Honesty: Practicing honesty and transparency at work might mean

working through a disagreement, explaining that you were not able to
complete a certain task on time or sharing difficult updates. Without
transparency, it can be difficult for a team to develop trust and therefore
work together efficiently.

• Active listening: Much like communication, active listening skills can

help a team to understand and trust each other. Active listening is the
act of making an effort to focus intently on one person as they share
their ideas, thoughts or feelings. You might also ask follow-up questions
to dig deeper into what they are communicating.

• Empathy: Having empathy for your teammates can allow you to better
understand their motives and feelings. Taking the time to listen and
understand how others think and work can help you to communicate with
them in the right ways.

• Collaboration: Teamwork exists so that a group of individuals with a

diverse set of skills and talents can work together towards a common
goal. It is crucial to work with other teammates to share ideas, improve
each other’s work and help one another to form a good team.

• Awareness: In teamwork, it is important that you hone your ability to

be aware of the team dynamic at all times. For example, if one person is
dominating the conversation or does not allow others to share ideas, it is
important that balance is restored for each teammate to contribute
evenly. Alternatively, if one person tends to be shyer and hesitant to
share ideas, it is important to create space so that all teammates feel
comfortable to contribute their unique skills and abilities.
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

How to improve your teamwork skills

While it can take time and work to improve soft skills such as teamwork, it is
certainly possible to build these qualities. Here are a few steps you can take to
improve your teamwork skills:
• Get honest feedback. It can be difficult to identify your own areas of
improvement. Finding a trusted friend, colleague or mentor that can offer
you honest feedback about your teamwork strengths and weaknesses
can help you improve them.
• Set personal goals. Using both your own observations and feedback
from others to form achievable, relevant and time-constrained goals can
help you improve one teamwork skill at a time. Using the SMART goal
framework is an easy way to set appropriate goals for your career.
• Practice. It takes time and practice to see improvements in your
skillset. Pay close attention to your teamwork interactions throughout the
day both in and out of work. Take mindful steps to practice the specific
qualities you are trying to build.
• Mimic others with strong teamwork skills. When you see examples
of great teamwork, take note and identify why the interaction stood out
to you. Apply those qualities in your own interactions when working with
others.
Developing teamwork skills can help you both in your career and when
seeking new opportunities. Take time to evaluate your current skill set and
identify areas for improvement. With time and practice, you can begin building
a strong set of teamwork skills.

Importance of Team Communication Skills:

Good communication is the crucial component of making goals reachable.
The team leader communicates project expectations to all the players, and
work is divided fairly based on each person's unique strengths and
qualifications. This means nobody has to be responsible for or able to do
everything. While one person excels at client care, another person has stellar
presentation skills and yet another can organize computer documents in her
sleep. Clear communication makes these things evident so that deadlines are
less stressful and objectives are met and exceeded with ease.
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

1. Greater Efficiency, Better Solutions

When each team player knows his or her role in serving clients or meeting a
deadline, all are free to focus on only their own tasks, without worrying
about what everyone else is doing. Clear communication also means
communicating with teammates when you are not able to complete your
tasks, so the team can come up with solutions before the situation escalates
and the team process breaks down. Communication helps you maintain
efficiency under a variety of circumstances and conditions.

to any team's success and the overall success of the business.

2. Positive Work Relationships

These communication skills foster trust between teammates, and this creates
an environment for positive professional relationships to take root and grow.
When teammates know each other well, they become acquainted with each
others' strengths, weaknesses, tendencies and thought processes, which
makes it easier to work together toward a common goal and plan for future
projects. Positive work relationships add a sense of fulfillment and
satisfaction to the job, which can aid in employee retention and a stable work
environment.

3. Creating a Culture of Celebration

Good team communication skills are not simply about assigning tasks or
troubleshooting problems. Communication is also about creating a culture of
celebration in the workplace. Teammates and team leaders who notice
achievements of their peers and employees take the time to communicate
and celebrate together. Improvement is noticed, congratulated and
encouraged, as well, which creates an environment where employees want to
be their best on the job and maintain a growth mindset.

4. Reducing and Diffusing Conflict

Whenever a group of people work toward a common goal, conflict is likely to

arise at one time or another. Whether conflict is due to unfair expectations,
irresponsibility or plain misunderstanding, good team communication skills
let everyone have a voice and feel heard. When it is safe to express thoughts
clearly, honestly and tactfully, it is easier to move forward with a solution
that has everyone's best interest at heart. Once on the other side of conflict,
a team with good communication skills may even feel stronger for
overcoming the hurdle.
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

Effective Team Communication in a Workplace:

Team communication plays a critical role in the workplace. It has a direct impact
on the employees’ individual productivity, the team’s performance, and the
company’s success overall.

• What is effective team communication?

Before getting into how team communication can be improved, it is important
to define what effective team communication actually is.

While it may seem counter-intuitive, it doesn't mean that the team

communicates a lot. On the contrary, effective communication is when the
team spends as little time as possible actively communicating, and more time
doing meaningful work.

Symptoms of poor team communication:

Repetitive questions. The same questions are asked over and over when
•
knowledge is passed down via an oral tradition without getting properly
documented. Every repetitive question is a pause in productivity and they
add up quickly.
• Frequent team meetings. While in some cases they may be
justified, the vast majority of meetings are a waste of time. The only
reason why such meetings are needed is that knowledge silos prevent
information from being shared organically.
• Chat as the main means of communication. As Jason Fried, the CEO
of Basecamp, once said, “group chat is like being in an all-day meeting
with random participants and no agenda.” While Slack may be addictively
fun, it's one of the least effective communication tools: it's unorganized
and distracting, leaving us to play an endless game of whack-a-mole with
unread notifications.
• How to improve team communication
Some of the best tips for effective team communication come from fully
remote companies such as Basecamp, Zapier, Buffer, and Automattic. When
your team is distributed across the globe, ensuring that everyone stays on the
same page may seem challenging, but as the experience of these companies
shows, a few simple best practices can do wonders.
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

• Create a knowledge base

Creating a culture of knowledge sharing is one of the first steps towards

achieving efficient team communication. That doesn't mean scheduling more
meetings so your employees can share information with each other. It means
making sure all knowledge is documented in one central, organized, and
searchable place – a knowledge base or a company intranet.

A team knowledge base is the easiest way to help your employees share
information in an organized, structured way and prevent repetitive questions
and needless interruptions. Create a free knowledge base in Nuclino.

• Communicate asynchronously

Asynchronous communication simply means sending a message without

expecting an immediate reply. Common examples of asynchronous
communication tools include email and various content collaboration tools.

It may seem like a slow way to communicate compared to meetings and

instant messaging, but it also tends to be of higher quality, which saves time
in the long run:

• Long-form written communication is more thoughtful. During a

face-to-face discussion, we have to think on the spot. On Slack, we have
to make our point one line at a time. On the other hand, writing down our
thoughts teaches us to communicate more clearly.
• There are fewer meetings and more time for focused work. When
you want to share something with your team, there is no need to interrupt
their work and get them all in the same room or Zoom call. Unless it's an
emergency, it's much more efficient to write it up and share it in the form
of a memo.
• There is a written record. Communicating in writing automatically
creates documentation and adds to the team knowledge base, increasing
clarity and transparency and benefiting everyone, including the future
employees. When questions arise about why certain decisions were made,
you can always revisit your notes.
 PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Old Nalsian Road, Nalsian, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines 2418
Tel. No. (075)522-8032/Fax No. (075)523-0894/Website: [Link]
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED, Member: Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU),
Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI)

Document your work

Starting a new project? Proposing a change in strategy? Learned something

interesting from an A/B test? Preserve the context of every decision and
lesson learned by neatly documenting your work.

Thorough project documentation minimizes information silos and helps your

team stay on the same page without redundant status update meetings.

Have meetings as a last resort (and always have an agenda)

Not all meetings are a waste of time, and in some cases may indeed be the
fastest path towards a decision. If you do have a meeting, though, don't skip
the planning and be respectful of your team's time. Make sure you have
a meeting agenda and don't forget to take meeting minutes.

Keep your team small

It may seem that a larger team can get more done together. But in reality, the
more people you add to a team, the harder it becomes to keep them on the
same page. It's impossible to maintain effective team communication when
you are working in a large group.

Harvard psychologist and expert on team dynamics Richard Hackman suggests

a simple rule of thumb for determining an ideal team size: “No double digits.”
Jeff Bezos adheres to a similar principle, known as the “two-pizza team” rule,
meaning that no matter how large your company gets, if you can’t feed a
team with two pizzas, it’s too large.