As much as we fear missing out, VOCA’s research on Life@Work, indicates many of us already are! The good news is that we can re-engineer our approach to work and find ourselves “getting in on” spiritual power and joy at work.
In this post, we explore “Missing Out on the Power of Teams.” We will take a quick look at the relevant research findings, explore the forces that block us from finding joy in our work teams, consider what we are missing if we let these blockers have their way, and close with some practices that help us unleash the power of joy in our team.
The Research
Every year we explore what people are experiencing in their day-to-day work. We ask respondents what their greatest source of joy is on the job. This year, the team dynamic came in second as the most cited source of joy at work.
Across all respondents, 13% identify “team” as a way they find happiness at work. And the power of a working community to bring joy goes up as workers get younger:
Boomers: 6%
Gen X: 11%
Millennials: 13%
Gen Z: 16%
VOCA fielded a broad and diverse sample. “Team” comes in second as a source of joy. Profound for some, yet missed out by most. Why are so many of us missing out on the power of teams to bring us joy at work?
Why We Miss Out on the Power of Team
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
Proverbs 18:1
Consider this list of potential forces that block healthy team culture–which ones are true of your work experience? How might you be engaged in the thinking and habits that contribute to each?
Poor Team Culture Which We Do Not Control: At VOCA, we often coach individuals dealing with a broken culture for which they are not ultimately responsible. In their mind, their supervisor sets the vibe, and trying to change it seems both impossible and risky.
Lack of Influence or Agency: You speak up, and you try to make the team better. But your efforts go nowhere. Worse, you seem to be labeled as condescending, a know-it-all, someone who doesn’t mind her own business or a problem.
Lack of Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Confusion about an individual span of authority, deliverables, and priorities leads to frustration, inefficiency, and hesitancy to engage.
Poor Communication: Ineffective communication creates misunderstandings, conflict, and a breakdown in collaboration. A lot of guessing goes on about where the team is heading, what’s important, and who does what.
Lack of Trust: Trust means “I count on you personally to have my back and want what is best for me.” Trust means “I count on you professionally to deliver on your job requirements.” A lack of trust among team members hinders open communication, idea sharing, and a willingness to support one another.
Individualistic Work Culture: Many smaller firms have a founder who is unusually driven to succeed and who makes heroic sacrifices to make that happen. Founders work without a lot of external reinforcement or dependence on others. Larger firms reward those who are driven to get ahead and autonomously produce the results that will be celebrated. No matter the size, environments that prioritize individual achievement over collective effort undermine teamwork.
Virtual / Dispersed Teams: Remote work and dispersed work groups present a challenge for teams to bond, build trust, resolve conflict, and realize the benefits of working collaboratively together.
Fear of Conflict: Most of us do not like conflict so we avoid it. We hesitate to challenge assumptions, address potentially risky or hurtful statements, and confront team members whose performance or behavior is damaging. When team members ignore conflict over longer periods of time, a repository of resentment-feeding issues develops and can explode without warning.
What We Are Missing: The Benefits of a Strong Team Culture
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
This wisdom text from the Hebrew Bible shows us at least three benefits of the team: winning at work, support, and protection.
Winning
As our friend, CEO David Ridley, likes to say, “Nothing builds a strong team like winning.” The text says teaming brings a greater reward for one’s toil. Economists call it increased productivity: we create and deliver more for less. Winning, not doubt, is enhanced by the better ideas that are tabled by a team, mitigating the key person risk that can ruin many an enterprise when we depend on one player as the one with the answer to every challenge.
Support
If you’re alone and fall down, there’s no one to pick you up. Every human being falls down. We face professional and job-related difficulties as well as life challenges on the personal side. Teams support each other when these storms come decreasing the risk of burnout and depression. Could the record number of Americans facing mental health challenges be fed by our individualistic approach to work?
Protection
The writer of Ecclesiastes lived in a dangerous world where bandits, war, and disease could wipe out everything someone had worked for. Banding together protected against this risk. Today we live in a world that is usually not as physically dangerous. But external changes in markets, clients, and funding, as well as internal politics and technology advances, pose risks to us nonetheless–risks we are much better insulated against if we have a strong team.
Without a team, you are extremely vulnerable and set up to fail.
Unlocking the Power of Teams:
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone”
Genesis 2:18
Four biblical practices will position you as a builder of a healthy team culture no matter how much official authority you have in your working group.
Value your Neighbor: As a Christ follower, you believe that every person is fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image (See Psalm 139). Every human being has the capacity to bring some form of value. You can see through the personal brand and even failures, the quirks of personality, and the lack of awareness to recognize and believe in the potential of each individual on your team.
Deliver Excellence: Christians are expected to do great work (see Colossians 3:23-24). Godly people like Joseph and Daniel had a reputation for excellence and wisdom. Don’t expect a teammate or team leader to be amazing if the quality of your work and engagement with your peers is mediocre or worse.
Love Your Neighbor: Your colleagues are people. Just like you, their lives are a mix of hopes and fears, strengths and weaknesses, joys and sorrows. Treat them as such. When you see a need for encouragement or help, meet it. No strings attached. (Give advice sparingly, only when asked).
Be a Peacemaker: Jesus said peacemakers will be blessed–they will experience the happiness of God. Jesus’ followers are enjoined to speak the truth in love. This combination of confrontation and care is rare in the marketplace (and the ministry office too!). But making peace by candidly addressing divides creates deep team unity and health.
Here are five other practices that can release a team to provide joy to its members.
Define Clear Roles, Responsibilities, and Goals: Ensure that everyone on the team understands their contributions and how they fit into the larger picture. If you are not the leader respectfully yet persistently agitate for clarity.
Foster Open and Honest Communication: Encourage regular communication, active listening, and constructive feedback. Push yourself out of your comfort zone regularly.
Build Trust Through Vulnerability and Reliability: Create opportunities for team members to get to know each other on a personal level and to demonstrate their dependability. Lead the way by sharing bits of your story and what is significant in your personal life at present.
Celebrate Successes and Learn From Setbacks together: Foster a culture of shared responsibility and support, acknowledging both wins and opportunities for improvement. Set the pace by praising team members with timely and specific positive feedback. Share personal realizations and aspirations for improvement readily.
Invest in Team-Building Activities: Dedicate time for activities that promote collaboration, communication, and relationship-building, both in-person and virtually. Engage in these as a role model of what valuing your team looks like.
Conclusion
A group of us are finding joy at work in our experience of teamwork. Many more of us can! Review this article and talk about it with a teammate–how can you be conspirators for the good of your work group?
Unify, mobilize, and maximize the skills of your team with VOCA's coaching and training. Talk with our team to hear how our solutions will help you bring your mission to life and prepare for growth.
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