Imagine you and your team are in a rowing race.

There’s no way you can lose, you think, as you look at your team. Some members are strong, some are smart and others are as cunning as a fox.

And the opposition? Just boat filled with scrawny weaklings all in need of a good hot meal—no threat to you.

Or so you think…

When the starting pistol fires, the opposition glides away at blistering speed while yours thrashes around in disarray.

You shout commands at your team in an attempt to reorganise, but it’s already too late.

The strong ones are paddling backwards, the smart ones are trying to go forwards and the cunning ones are merely pretending to work.

You’ve lost to the “weaker” team…

This analogy demonstrates the effectiveness of a united team. An effective team is about collaboration, not strong individuals.

Although there are some challenges that are unique to each industry or field, some common teamwork challenges are:

1. Lack of clarity

When an employee is working on a project, it’s important for them to understand what you expect from them so that they are best prepared to deliver satisfactory results. When an employee does not know what their goal is, it can lead to inefficiency from a lack of focus or from performing work that does not fit into the larger goals of the project.

The most effective way to ensure staff understands your expectations is to speak with an employee at the start of an assignment, then check in over the course of it to ensure their work shows an understanding of the project’s needs. Putting key expectations in writing removes any uncertainty and provides a reference for the employee when needed.

2. Trust issues

Establishing trust between co-workers is important for team productivity. Trust allows an employee to request assistance or offer help to others, which can help everyone on the team solve problems more quickly and effectively.

Often, trust can form naturally both through professional performance and personal bonds. When a team is low on trust, team-building activities may help you establish those bonds between your staff so they are better prepared to work cohesively.

3. Personality conflicts

Individuals all have their own preferences and personalities, and occasionally this can lead to situations in which two employees have a tendency to disagree. This can lead to decreased morale or poor cooperation.

You can help minimize the likelihood of personality clashes by considering your work culture and existing staff when hiring new employees. When clashes occur between two current employees, you can resolve them by adjusting assignments to reduce their interaction or providing mediation services to resolve disagreements.

4. Withholding information

Sharing project-related information helps teams succeed, so when one or more employees keep information away from a co-worker, it can have a detrimental effect on team performance. When an employee operates with incomplete information, they may miss an opportunity or perform unnecessary work.

It’s beneficial to emphasize the importance of sharing valuable information throughout the staff and to model this behaviour when you share new information with relevant team members. This can help employees understand that personal or professional motivations should not overrule the best interests of the team.

5. Lack of communication

Open communication helps every employee know what to expect from their co-workers as well as what their co-workers expect from them. This raises the overall reliability of the team, minimizing productivity loss due to duplicate work or delays.

One of a manager’s responsibilities is ensuring staff have several methods of communicating and coordinating with each other. Besides encouraging staff communication, organizing meetings, creating an email chain or using a group messaging software can help facilitate important conversations.