How to Build a Strong, Powerful and Interdependent Team

In the words of Phil Jackson, “The strength of a team is each member. The strength of each member is the team.” This makes it very important for any entrepreneur and business leader to have a strong, flexible and fully interdependent team.

It’s not just about hiring a pool of talented people; it’s about creating a team that makes every team member successful. Here’s how you can put together such a group.

Related: Building High Performance Teams for Your Business: How to Do It

My journey to understand codependency

When I started my business career, I thought that human efficiency is very important. When I first became a manager, I believed that if I could hire the most qualified people for various positions, success would be inevitable. But I found that no matter how gifted people are, they will still have problems if they can’t put their efforts together. The going was hard, and there were always battles to be fought. What was seen was that a team full of outstanding players was not enough; you need a cohesive and interdependent team.

Building a culture of trust and communication

1. Establish trust from day one

As we all know, trust is the cornerstone of any good team. Without it, cooperation is always obvious. As a way to build trust, one must start with honesty. Be open with your team about your vision, goals and problems.

In my company, we started holding weekly meetings based on the concept of transparency. In such gatherings, people (including me) would share updates, difficulties and achievements. All this openness helped create a culture where trust was the norm.

2. Encourage open and honest communication

It is important to keep the lines of communication open. Develop a practice of open communication where team members can express ideas, give feedback or raise issues. Implement practices that make employees feel valued in the organization.

To encourage this, we have provided an option for team members to share anonymous feedback and ideas. This ensured that even shy members could speak when they wanted.

Using individual strengths for collective success

1. Find and use individual strengths

Everyone in the group has qualities that other members of the group do not have. Be aware of these strengths, and ensure that jobs that match those strengths are provided. It not only increases the efficiency of individual workers but also increases the overall team productivity.

StrengthsFinder was used in our company to identify specific strengths of each team member. Once we had established people’s strengths, we continued to assign work and projects according to areas of genius, so that everyone worked in their “intelligence box.”

2. Encourage specialized training and cross-training

To some extent, team members should focus on some of their tasks, but cross-training is also important. It ensures that knowledge and skills are shared and allows the team to better manage tasks.

To address the lack of communication, we have introduced a monthly multi-training session where one can learn about the activities of other team members. It not only created a sympathetic attitude but also a diverse and stable group at the same time.

Related: How to Create a Power-Based Culture by Unlocking the Power of Employee Opportunities

Building interdependence

1. Fostering a collaborative environment

Collaboration should be at the core of all processes in the team. Organize situations where team members can participate in projects and other activities that require problem solving. This encourages a sense of shared responsibility and team success.

Various activities have been encouraged by the creation of various groups for specific activities. Therefore, performing tasks in parallel allowed the consideration of other ideas, thus increasing the chances of developing original solutions.

2. Develop a culture of mutual support

An important characteristic of interdependent groups is that they rely on the support of other members. Encourage teamwork so that everyone in the team is motivated to help their colleagues and teach them what they know. Reward efforts and thank people for their support and cooperation.

Our company launched the “Player of the Month Team” event with the express purpose of applauding those who want to help others. This recognition increased the need for unity and mutual cooperation.

Empowering team members to be independent

1. Provide independence and ownership

Forcing your team members to work in a certain way is counterproductive. Instead, encourage them to take control of their activities and outcomes. When done successfully, it creates an atmosphere of accountability and leads to improved employee engagement and productivity.

We introduced a concept known as ROWE, which stands for Result Oriented Work Environment, and eliminated time-bound testing procedures. By giving them this change, they were able to continue the way they felt successful, improving both work quality and morale.

2. Invest in continuous learning and development

Encourage ongoing employee training and development to ensure long-term success. Doing so ensures that the learning team is ready for change and able to face the challenges that come with change.

For each member of the group, we gave the opportunity to spend the tuition money on courses, books or conferences that they wanted. These actions led to the development of skills and knowledge of everyone in the organization, thus emphasizing the importance of investing in the growth of the group.

Leading by example

1. Show mutual trust

As a leader, you must teach your team how to behave in the way you want and set the tone for appropriate behavior. If you show that you respect the value of all team members and depend on them, you will find that they do the same for you.

When I lead my team, I made sure to include various team members in decision-making and made sure they were respected. This showed that I believe in them and emphasized our symbiotic relationship.

2. Give positive feedback and celebrate success

Feedback breaks down barriers and empowers team members to improve. It also encourages team improvement. While explaining to your team members what they need to improve on, make sure you also tell them about the good things they are doing. Always take time to look back and reflect on when a goal has been achieved or progress made to ensure motivation is kept high across the team.

We introduced a feedback meeting involving the whole team, and it was held once every two weeks. Also, we congratulated the teams and provided additional support through team lunches and other forms of motivation.

Related: 10 Simple Steps to Building an Exceptional and Effective Team

Teamwork is one of the most rewarding investments because it helps build trust within an organization. Trust your colleagues, encourage equal communication, focus on energy, facilitate collaboration, and empower the team, and you will establish a strong and united force that can only produce victory. Remember that each member of the group brings a certain amount of energy, and, at the same time, each member of the group receives energy from the group. That is why it is better to accept this interdependence and strengthen the foundation of sustainable success.