Unconventional Management Tips to Boost Team Performance

Strong and effective teams are usually the driving force behind a successful company. It has been shown time and again that when team member support each other and work cooperatively, they perform better than groups where the members are focused on their individual interest.

Every single person in the team from the CEO to intern has an important part to play when it comes to having an positive impact on team performance.An exceptional manager is able to understand this and the importance of a cooperative group dynamic. They find ways to piece together different pieces of a team to create a cohesive and functional unit working towards a common goal.

Teams usually run in a certain way – regular meetings, strict job roles and hierarchy, and so forth. While routines can help us tremendously in doing our jobs, sometimes it’s important to venture outside the conventional way of doing things to creatively boost morale and motivation. Here are a few unconventional tips to create a motivated and effective workplace:

Make Time Outside office hours

It is important to have boundaries when it comes to professional and personal time. While striking a balance is crucial, being present outside of work isn’t always a bad idea.

Laserfiche, a company in Long Beach, California, created a program called Laserfiche Cares as a way to enrich the lives of employees and community members. “I volunteered teaching Mandarin to three groups of students at YMCA on my birthday. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday. It’s such a heartwarming experience,” said Linda Ding, the director of strategic marketing at Laserfiche.Opportunities like this can be combined with team bonding activities to build upon a company’s community engagement and team spirit.

Or simply, just host a office happy hour. Regardless of your choice of activity, getting your team together outside of the office is a great way to build a stronger team.

Make honesty the best policy

Be candid with your employees and encourage to return the favor. Be open to receiving constructive criticism. Once a team starts trusting each other, it’s easier to adopt an environment of honest and open dialogue. This is when you should set the stage for being candid with each other.

It may seem difficult since people tend to fear being too honest since it might hurt someone’s feelings. But, when you have transparency in meetings, it’s better than talking being people’s backs. Remember, when you adopt this policy, it is important to remove biases and focus on what’s best for the team overall.

Make appreciation a priority

Praise and appreciation is one of the biggest motivators. It can lift both individual and team spirit by making people feel valued. Appreciation means more than just saying “thank you”. Praise is most impactful when you recognize your employees for their successes and their contributions. This kind of praise will encourage your employees to perform better and give increased effort. If you make appreciation and praise a part of your business culture, there’s a good chance it will add to your business outcomes.