There’s a reason we have that saying about teamwork making dreams work. Did you know 75% of employees say that teamwork and collaboration are essential for success in the workplace? And yet, despite facts about teamwork like this one, many organizations struggle to find ways to get team members to work together effectively and with a singular goal in mind. Companies all around the world are investing in teamwork and team-building events to provide a boost in morale, productivity, and the ability to overcome obstacles collectively. But how exactly can collaboration benefit your organization? And why does it work? Let’s explore these questions and review key teamwork facts in more detail.
Why is Teamwork Important?
Before digging deeper into the subject of teamwork, let’s first look at why it’s such a priority for successful organizations. And while there are countless interesting facts about teamwork to make a persuasive argument, they usually boil down to a few key areas.
The first thing to know about teamwork is that it’s a vital part of solving problems. Even the brightest minds can find themselves stuck on a particular issue or obstacle, and only by getting a fresh perspective from colleagues can they expect to find a viable and effective solution.
At the same time, when it comes to the capabilities of a team, facts and statistics repeatedly show that teamwork can make people happier by creating a more supportive and inclusive work environment. And that can have far-reaching implications for employee retention, office morale, and the business’s overall performance.
Finally, one of the critical facts about teamwork is that it helps bring forth innovation. The most astounding breakthroughs often occur through people sharing ideas and working together, which is why organizations should do everything in their power to nurture a collaborative and inclusive environment.
What is the Ideal Team Size?
Even though applying team building and teamwork techniques can be very useful, sometimes the team size itself can determine how well your employees work together. And unfortunately, many companies make the mistake of trying to solve problems by adding new members instead of thinking about how they will impact the dynamic of the group. Eventually, this leads to teams that are too big, resulting in poor communication, slower pace, and worse overall outcomes.
But when it comes to ideal team size for effectiveness, there’s no one “right” answer. There are many opinions on which you could base your choice. An article by Fortune Magazine argues that the ideal number is 4.6, enabling the group to maintain clear roles and open lines of communication throughout the entire process. And some believe that more than five team members takes away from each person’s individuality.
Jeff Bezos goes by his “two-pizza” rule, which states that a team is too big if you can’t feed everyone with two pizzas. According to some, that might come out to around eight people. However, while the ideal number might be hard to determine, the best approach in most situations is to lean on the lower end of these numbers and ensure that each addition to the team is necessary and justified.
Fun Facts About Teamwork
Most people have worked in a team setting at one point in time. And for many, it’s been an integral part of how they accomplish tasks throughout their careers. With that in mind, let’s look at some fun and surprising facts about teamwork that highlight just how interesting the dynamics of working in a group can be.
For starters, conflict is not fun, which is why many leaders imagine that it’s something to be avoided in a well-functioning team. But while they may be uncomfortable, embracing conflicts is the only way to ensure that your team performs at their best. Conflict allows people to voice their concerns and explore alternative approaches instead of agreeing with something they don’t believe in just to avoid a confrontation. Good teams know that conflict is just a part of working together and are able to move on from the disagreements without allowing them to affect the relationships within the group.
When it comes to fun facts about work in teams, you may also find it surprising that even the most brilliant minds often work better with others. Sure, it’s possible to solve problems on your own, but having peers to discuss ideas with and get valuable feedback makes the process of solving problems much more effective.
Finally, for a team to function at its best, formal training sessions might not always be the best approach. In fact, many companies have found huge success with offbeat team building events such as having the teamwork together to find their way out of an escape room.
Learning From Facts About Teamwork
Now that we’ve looked at some fun facts for the workplace about teamwork, we can wrap up with a few more interesting facts that will help you build and manage teams more effectively:
- If you want your teams to perform at their best, consider removing hierarchical barriers and instead focus on creating an equal environment where everyone has their say. But at the same time, you should have someone who can set goals, establish processes, and ensure that everything stays on track.
- For a team to perform well, it needs to have a set of perspectives that are diverse and complementary. Therefore, it’s usually a good idea to get people from different backgrounds and of varying ages. That way, the ideas and solutions the team develops will be more diverse as well.
- Even though technology is becoming an integral part of teamwork, in-person work will usually be more efficient and productive.
Bottom Line
In this article, we looked at the principles of work, fun facts about teamwork, and why the way you build your team matters. But sometimes, all you need is a way to help your team bond. At Paranoia Quest, we have a range of fun and fascinating escape rooms that will challenge your team and encourage them to work together. To learn more about the ultimate team-building experience, visit our website and book a room today!
