Teamwork

by Bill Krause

In order for a business to have the best environment in which to serve the customer, to make a profit and have a happy staff, it will take staff teamwork.

Teamwork is described at wikianswer.com as a joint action by two or more people or a group in which each person contributes with different skills and expresses his or her individual interests and opinions in the unity and efficiency of the group in order to achieve common goals.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_team_work_mean

Teamwork is the very element that will put you over the top in accomplishing all three tasks above.  The customer is the most important of all three.  Without the customer, there is no need for the business. Take care of them and you will be in business a long time.

If a business does not make a profit, everyone loses.  The customer loses the service that was provided, the employees lose their jobs, the government loses the taxes, the supplier loses an outlet, the landlord loses a tenant and the list goes on.

An inexpensive, “greater results” method to serve the customer and make a profit is to function in a flow of working together.   Look at the “we” instead of the “me”.    Seeing the staff as a whole instead of as individuals allows everyone to work as a body.  All for one and one for all.  Think about and do what you can to help the others.   Everyone has a specialty but be sure to ask yourself, “What can I do to help the others that work around me?”  Refrain from saying, “That’s not my responsibility.”  In teamwork each member is doing what works for the benefit of the whole picture.

If the person who answers the phone has stepped away from their desk, answer it for them.  Carry product out for a customer, even if you didn’t make the sale.  Do anything that serves the customer, adds to the profit and makes the work load lighter for fellow employees.

I am reminded of a client who had an opportunity to practice this lesson.  The place they were working was closing for the day and the staff was walking out together to go home.  There were six of them walking out when a delivery truck was pulling up with needed supplies.  One of the workers said, “You will have to take it back.  We’re off already.”  Another chimed in and said, “That’s right.  We’re done for the day.”   One of the guys piped up and said, “I’ll stay and unload the truck.”   Then another and another until all admitted, “We really do need the supplies first thing in the morning, so they all began to help.  The necessary supplies were unloaded from the truck, the supplier did not have to make a second trip, the guys were ready for work in the morning and it only took a few minutes to do the entire task.

Teamwork means everybody is doing their part to make the whole system work better for all.  Lighten the work for anyone and you have helped everyone. Do what you can do to bring a spirit of teamwork to your work place.  You will be a happy staff in a pleasant environment, creating a wonderful place for all the customers who will want to come see you and do business with you.