Rethinking teamwork

It is not uncommon for modern working life to feel like a ship on the high seas: to master the big waves of the working world, you need a well-coordinated team. Teamwork is the wind in the sails of successful companies – it drives innovation and enables us to reach new shores together. 

But what really constitutes good cooperation? In this comprehensive guide, we explore the importance of teamwork, its advantages and disadvantages, and modern approaches to hybrid working models. We also explain how you can optimize collaboration in your company with the help of tools like Flexopus.

Teamwork in the work environment

Teamwork is much more than the collaboration of several people who want to achieve a common goal. In a good team, each member complements the strengths of the others and thus contributes to the overall success. Especially in dynamic work environments where interdisciplinary thinking is required, skillfully organized teamwork becomes a competitive advantage.

But teamwork doesn't simply mean dividing tasks among several employees - clear strategies, effective communication and a supportive work environment form the basis for the success of your company. Equally important is a corporate culture that your teams can identify with. 

In short: teamwork only works if the framework conditions are right. Companies that neglect these aspects risk far more than just inefficient workflows – and frustration and tension within the team can have far-reaching consequences. This makes it all the more important to develop the right strategies to ensure the success of your company through smooth teamwork.

Benefits of teamwork

Better problem solving

Ideally, a team brings together different perspectives and experiences, leading to more creative and thoughtful solutions. Complex challenges can be tackled more effectively when every team member contributes valuable insights and expertise – Diversity is the key to success!

Promoting innovation

Teamwork creates space for ideas and inspiration. The exchange of ideas and concepts creates innovations that individuals would not have developed in this way. However, it is important to give weight and reach to the voices of all team members – because cooperation can only succeed if there is trust within the team.

Strengthening team spirit

Being successful together strengthens cohesion and motivation. Successful teams develop a sense of togetherness that increases employee satisfaction and loyalty in the long term – not only to each other, but also to your company.

Distribution of the workload

By dividing up tasks, your employees can concentrate on their core competencies. This distribution of the workload increases efficiency, but also prevents overload of individual team members. For your company, this means fewer absences and happier employees.

Disadvantages of teamwork

Smooth teamwork doesn't just happen by chance – as an employer, it's your job to create a working atmosphere in which your employees feel comfortable and enjoy working together. So make sure that the following disadvantages don’t put a damper on your plans:

Potential for conflict

Different working styles and opinions can lead to disputes. Without clear rules and open communication, these conflicts can hinder productivity – so if you want to get the best out of your team, you should take an active role in avoiding or resolving tensions.

Loss of time due to voting

Agreements and meetings cost valuable working time. Inefficient coordination can disrupt workflows, limit productivity, and jeopardize deadlines. But here too, practice makes perfect. The more well-coordinated your team is, the more efficient meetings and other activities will be.

Unequal commitment

There are different performance levels in every team. There is always a risk that some members will contribute less while others are overburdened. The key is to actively support employees and give weight to their voices. 

Dominance of individuals

Sometimes strong personalities dominate the team dynamic, which can lead to others not contributing enough or holding back their ideas. Frequent feedback sessions with your team help to identify such situations in a timely manner and counteract them as quickly as possible.

The right way to interact in a team

Successful teamwork is based on mutual respect, clear communication and positive dynamics. Teams work best when all members know their roles and responsibilities and work together as equals. To ensure this and avoid misunderstandings, regular coordination is essential.

But even when building a team, your employees need to be able to rely on a few basics:

• psychological safety
• reliability
• Structure/Clarity
• personal motivation 
• Appreciation of one’s own contribution.

You shouldn't neglect the ability to give and receive feedback—not just among employees, but also as a supervisor. If constructive criticism is seen as an opportunity for improvement and not as a personal attack, you're on the right track—you should actively foster this culture in your company. 

This way you will quickly see the first breakthroughs in terms of cohesion. Celebrating success is often forgotten, but it's much more than a nice gesture - it's a powerful motivator for your team. Give your employees the appreciation they deserve and lay the foundation for future excellence.

How do fixed workplaces affect teamwork?

Successful teamwork begins in a work environment that encourages exchange and cooperation. Unfortunately, fixed workstations often mean the opposite: In traditional offices, interaction and dynamics within a team are significantly limited. 

If your employees sit at the same desk all day, this often leads to the formation of “islands”: they communicate primarily with colleagues in their immediate vicinity, not necessarily with all team members. That’s why it’s worth breaking up these rigid and outdated structures.

Shared desks for more communication

In contrast, shared desks promote social bonds and exchange through shared workspaces. Because Desk Sharing creates a dynamic environment in which employees can constantly make new contacts. 

The flexible choice of seating allows colleagues from different departments or projects to meet each other who would otherwise have little contact. This informal exchange has a positive effect on team cohesion, but also on creativity and knowledge sharing within your company.

In addition, shared desks prevent rigid hierarchies, as managers and employees can meet on an equal footing. The result? An open atmosphere where ideas are freely shared and innovative approaches are developed – an environment where teamwork can flourish.

How does successful teamwork work in a home office?

But what if your teams are rarely in the same office? There's no doubt – working from the home office places special demands on team cooperation. 

Without direct contact in the office, it can be difficult to maintain a strong team dynamic. Clear structures are therefore essential for teamwork in the home office: Define common working hours and create rituals, such as weekly check-ins or virtual coffee breaks. This way, the team spirit remains alive even from a distance.

Tools for teamwork in the modern work environment

Whether home office, hybrid working or flex office – digital tools are essential to facilitate collaboration in a modern working environment. Regular virtual meetings, clear communication channels and shared digital platforms ensure that all members stay connected and work runs smoothly. For example, set it to…

• Regular video conferences
• Messenger services for daily exchange
• Shared documents and progress
• Virtual whiteboards

Golden rules for teamwork

Make the following best practices part of your company’s daily routine to strengthen teamwork in the long term:

1. Clearly define the common goal
   A team can only work successfully if everyone has the same goal in mind. This should be clearly formulated and communicated at the beginning so that everyone knows what is being worked towards.
2. Sharing responsibility
   Good teamwork depends on all members taking responsibility. 
3. Resolve conflicts constructively
   Different opinions are unavoidable. It is important to deal with conflicts objectively, to offer constructive criticism and to find solutions together.
4. Be open to new things
   Innovations only arise when the team and managers are open to new ideas. Promote creativity and encourage your team members to contribute their opinions.
5. Promote independent work
   Everyone in the team is responsible for their own tasks. Working independently is crucial for project success.
6. Show reliability
   Reliability is the basis for trust. Agreements, deadlines and tasks must be adhered to so that everyone can rely on each other.
7. Giving and receiving support
   Teamwork means helping each other. Offering or accepting help creates a harmonious working atmosphere and ensures timely results.
8. Maintain effective communication
   Open communication is essential. Therefore, communicate all information, changes or new plans to the entire team in a timely and clear manner.
9. Distribute tasks fairly
   A fair distribution of tasks ensures that everyone can contribute actively and that the strengths of each team member are used optimally.
10. Making joint decisions
    Decisions should always be made by consensus. This promotes equality, strengthens cohesion and prevents tensions.

Successful teamwork with the Flexopus Group Manager

The Flexopus Group Manager makes organizing teams and workplaces in your company easier than ever before. With this tool, you can intuitively create user groups, assign employees, and define specific booking rules or access authorizations.

The group manager ensures that everyone can work exactly where the best conditions exist. Booking errors are avoided, sensitive data is protected and the working environment is optimally tailored to the needs of your team.

The group manager shows his strengths especially in hybrid working models or hot desking. It facilitates resource allocation, promotes communication between departments, and creates clear structures. 

With Flexopus you lay the foundation for a flexible and productive work environment in which teams can collaborate efficiently – without compromising on organization or security.