According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, teamwork is one of the most sought-after qualities in the workplace. With a varied workforce distributed around the world, technological advancements have enabled firms to be more connected and collaborative than ever before (7 Crucial Teamwork Skills).
As a result, good teamwork skills are even more vital for employees in both face-to-face and virtual team interactions.
College is an excellent place to begin honing your teamwork abilities. Your academic coursework will require you to work in groups, and your internship, externship, and clinical experiences will provide you the opportunity to hone your relationship-building, project management, and leadership skills.
Here are 5 teamwork qualities that will help you succeed in school and in your career:
- Communication
Effective teamwork is built on the foundation of communication. It’s critical to communicate freely and honestly with your group members about expectations, timelines, and duties, whether you’re working on a presentation with your students or leading a new project at work. Open lines of communication foster trust and contribute to a positive team environment. While conflicts are bound to arise, being open and respectful in your communication with other team members will help you address issues swiftly. - Time Managing
Time management, accountability, and responsibility are all equally vital in both your academic and professional lives. To create achievable goals for their team and keep others on track to achieve deadlines, project managers, for example, need great organizational abilities. Nurses must also show great time management skills, prioritizing and delegating activities so that they may devote more time to patients who require special attention.
It will be easier for you to transition to a fast-paced and collaborative work atmosphere in the future if you learn how to handle various deadlines and tasks while in school.
- Problem-solving skills
When faced with a dilemma, effective problem solvers are able to think outside the box. Rather than dwelling on the negative consequences, they maintain their composure and assist their team in finding a solution. This method aids in the discovery of blockages or inefficiencies that are impeding the team’s progress, allowing you to work to improve those procedures in the future. - Listening
It’s critical to retain an open mind when working in a group. Recognize that your team members may have a different point of view, and listen to what they have to say. Listening to other people’s perspectives can help you see all aspects of a problem, including ones you hadn’t considered before. This enables you to be a better colleague and leader, anticipating and responding effectively to needs and issues before they happen. - Critical Thinking
You can make smarter, more informed decisions by using critical thinking. It’s easy to go along with whatever the group decides or what one team member believes is the best course of action, but occasionally taking a different approach or coming up with a fresh concept might help you get better results. By critically evaluating all sides of an issue, reflecting on previous experiences, and listening to what other group members have to say, you may be able to reach a breakthrough that propels your team ahead in new and exciting directions.
At IBMS, we use group work, hands-on learning experiences, presentations, and projects to help you refine or acquire the skills you need for career progression. 7 Crucial Teamwork Skills.