Promoting Team Spirit In Organizations

Promoting Team Spirit In Organizations

It is happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

-Samuel Johnson
Hardly a day passes without the print media carrying stories of people absconding with moneys belonging to the organizations they work for. In some cases, the picture of the alleged offender is placed in the newspapers with a warning to the public not to transact business with the company through that individual. The disclaimer will further warn the public that anyone who transacts business with that person does so at his or her own risk.

Theft of money or property is a common occurrence in both public and private institutions. Most businesses have collapsed due to such unfortunate incidents.

A great business thrives on team spirit. Team spirit comes from hiring the right employees and motivating them.

Rules of recruitment
It is very important that when new employees are to be engaged, the rules of recruitment are followed. Finding the right people to fill a job vacancy should never be left to chance. Theodore Roosevelt, a former US president once wrote, “The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

Getting the right people to work with isn't easy. You need great skills to do this. Know that every skill is learnable.

You need to be very clear in your mind who you want to fill a job vacancy. What qualities are you looking for in this individual?

Andrew Carnegie, a successful industrialist once said, “The most valuable acquisition to any business is an exceptional employee. There is no bargain so fruitful.” The exceptional employee is a team player. They are exceptionally good at their jobs. They are creative, resourceful, original thinkers and very good at problem solving. They are selfless, honest, dedicated and diligent at their work. They put the interest of the company above their own. They are also considerate of the needs and feelings of their work colleagues and management. They are loyal, cooperative and are always ready to make the needed sacrifices and go the extra mile to achieve results. Every organization must be on the lookout for the exceptional employee.

David Ogilvy, a management expert gives us great insight into the recruitment of new hands. He said, when hiring people, always hire people bigger and better than you, and you'll end up with a company of “giants.” If you hire people smaller than you, you'll end up with a company of “dwarves.” Ogilvy was not referring to the physical size of the employee but their skills, integrity and abilities.

A good manager should surround himself with exceptional employees or giants.

Motivation
A good manager is effective to the degree that he can inspire and motivate people to get the work done and achieve the desired results. If you want organizational success, provide the necessary incentives for your employees and be fair to them. Their welfare must be your concern. They need good wages and salaries as well as better working conditions. They would want personal growth and career development through training, capacity building and mentoring among others.

When an employee steals money from the company they work for, it is not always due to greed but unfair wages and salaries. An employee will feel cheated if he makes so much for the company and he is paid peanuts. When an employee takes good care of the company, the company must take good care of the employee. It is a kind of symbiotic relationship.

Golden rule
We should use the Golden Rule to foster esprit de corps in the organization. The Golden Rule says that, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If you want respect, respect people. If you want people to be honest, be honest yourself.

When an employer treats his employees as underdogs, it breeds frustration, mistrust and resentment. No institution can survive in a state of chaos and confusion. That is why there is the need for employers and employees to deal honestly with one another.

Create harmony
Harmony must be created at the work place so people can give of their best. As a manager, you do not rave and rant when your employees make mistakes. Encourage employees to learn from their mistakes so that they can perform better the next time around.

A good atmosphere promotes growth and success of your organization. Hold regular meetings with your employees. Listen to them and get their input which can help in the expansion of the organization. Appreciate your employees and celebrate their successes. Commend them for remarkable performance.

“Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.” Says Henry Clay, 19th-century American politician. Politeness, kindness and friendliness constitute vital elements of organizational culture that are essential for growth and productivity.

Conclusion
In conclusion, a good manager must be proactive and be good at hiring the right employees to fill job vacancies. When you hire the wrong employees, they will work to kill the spirit and soul of the company. You can only build a great company when you have hired the right employees and have inspired and motivated them to excel and achieve organizational goals and objectives.

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