Teamwork - Competency
Definition: Teamwork Skills are the wide range of abilities that facilitate working together as a team including: communication, listening, interpersonal skills, collaboration, and team building. To make decisions, teams require flexibility to coordinate activities of multiple individuals. Individual contributors to the team can serve as role models for other team members. Some teams have a specified leader to help supervise or coach other team members.
360-Feedback Surveys Measuring Teamwork:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
Survey 13 (4-point scale; numbers; floating anchors)
Survey 14 (4-point scale; N/A)
Self-Comments: Do you have to complete a self-assessment or performance appraisal? If so, the
self-comments here may help.
What is Teamwork?
Teamwork is the foundation of effective collaboration, where individuals come together to communicate openly, listen actively, and build strong interpersonal connections. Effective teamwork requires team members to participate in discussions, share relevant information, and engage in thoughtful dialogue to ensure mutual understanding. By fostering a culture of collaboration, organizations encourage employees to appreciate different perspectives, work through challenges together, and create meaningful relationships that drive collective success.
Beyond communication, teamwork depends on shared decision-making, flexibility, and strong leadership. Team members must consider the impact of their choices, support group decisions, and adapt to evolving team dynamics without resistance. Those who actively participate as role models, provide coaching, and recognize their colleagues' contributions help reinforce a work environment that values fairness and respect. When employees embrace teamwork-building strategies, they strengthen networks across departments and cultivate a unified workforce dedicated to achieving shared goals.
At its core, teamwork is a commitment to shared success, requiring trust, accountability, and mutual support. Rewarding and recognizing contributions fosters motivation, while ensuring fair participation enhances equity within the team. Strong supervision helps guide individuals toward common objectives, while diverse perspectives enrich decision-making processes. Through effective teamwork, organizations create a collaborative, high-performing culture that drives innovation, efficiency, and long-term growth.
Would you like any refinements? Why are Teamwork skills important in the workplace?
The different perspectives of team members help create more options for problem-solving and decision making. The workload can be divided among different team members for increased efficiency. Good teamwork is facilitated by communication and interpersonal relationships. Teamwork environments also provide opportunities for individuals to develop their leadership skills. What are key aspects of Teamwork?
Key aspects of teamwork include:- Communication
- Listening
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Collaboration
- Team Building
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Leadership / Coaching
How can I improve my Teamwork Skills?
- Encourage Open Communication - Foster an environment where employees feel comfortable voicing their ideas, concerns, and feedback. Lead by example in active listening and constructive dialogue.
- Cultivate Collaboration - Promote teamwork by organizing cross-functional projects, encouraging employees to work together, and emphasizing the value of collective problem-solving.
- Recognize and Reward Contributions - Regularly acknowledge team members' efforts and successes through appreciation, incentives, or informal shoutouts, reinforcing a culture of teamwork.
- Develop Strong Interpersonal Bonds - Build rapport with employees and encourage them to form relationships within the team by creating opportunities for engagement and team-building activities.
- Lead by Example - Actively participate in discussions, make decisions that consider the team's best interests, and demonstrate professionalism, adaptability, and fairness in leadership.
- Encourage Flexibility and Adaptability - Emphasize the importance of adjusting to new team dynamics, embracing changes, and approaching challenges with a positive mindset.
- Coach and Support Employees - Provide guidance, mentorship, and constructive feedback to help employees strengthen their teamwork skills and collaborate more effectively.
- Promote Shared Decision-Making - Involve employees in discussions that affect the team, ensuring that decisions are made collectively and reflect diverse perspectives.
What questions could be included on a 360-degree survey that measure teamwork?
The questionnaire items below will measure teamwork. These questions are grouped into different facets of teamwork skills. When creating a 360-degree or other performance assessment, try to select one or two items from each group. 360-Feedback questions that measure Teamwork
CommunicationCommunication focuses on actively expressing ideas, sharing information, and fostering open dialogue within the team. This dimension highlights the ability to encourage contributions, promote transparency, build consensus, and ensure that relevant details are conveyed clearly to all team members. It prioritizes effective message delivery, ensuring that ideas, instructions, and feedback are openly exchanged to strengthen teamwork.
- Encourages open communication
- Communicates a clear message that teamwork and collaboration are expected.
- Willingly share their technical expertise
- Encourages others to share ideas to develop team cohesion
- Seeks and listens to other's contributions
- Communicates well with team members.
- Shares pertinent information with all members of the team.
- Supports open communication between team members.
- Promotes open communication on the team.
- Builds consensus and shares relevant information.
- Shares relevant information, ideas, opinions, and feelings with other district team members
- Solicits and implements ideas from all appropriate team members and uses these ideas to help accomplish market goals
- Actively and openly and effectively participates in group meetings as a team member and listens to others' contributions.
- Discusses with team about issues and the effects of those issues.
ListeningListening emphasizes attentively receiving, understanding, and acknowledging the input of others. This dimension centers on fostering a receptive environment, accurately paraphrasing discussions, encouraging team members to voice their opinions, and making space for meaningful exchanges. It prioritizes understanding and responsiveness, ensuring that ideas are heard and valued within the team dynamic.
- Listens carefully to other team members.
- Is able to accurately paraphrase and summarize what other team members have said.
- Encourages dialog between team members.
- Asks other team members to share their opinions.
- Willing to listen to the ideas of other team members.
- Focuses on understanding the other team member's message.
- Listens to other team members without interrupting them.
- Takes the time to actively listen to other team member's perspectives.
- Fosters an environment that promotes active listening on the team.
- Listens to the opinions of other team members.
- Takes the time to listen to the team's ideas.
- Makes eye contact when listening to colleagues.
- Listens and is attentive to other team members.
InterpersonalInterpersonal focuses on building strong relationships, fostering rapport, and promoting respectful, tactful interactions within the team. This dimension highlights empathy, appreciation for others, understanding different perspectives, and treating all team members with fairness and respect. It prioritizes relationship-building and emotional intelligence, ensuring a collaborative and supportive team environment.
- Relates to all kinds of people tactfully
- Demonstrates compassion and respect for others through actions; is concerned about their work and non-work issues
- Expresses appreciation for the work of other team members.
- Treats other team members with respect.
- Appreciates the input from other team members.
- Builds strong relationships with team members.
- Builds a strong rapport with team members.
- Gives constructive advice to other team members.
- Able to work closely other team members who are considered to be difficult to work with.
- Demonstrates a willingness to work with the team.
- Demonstrates an understanding of other team member's viewpoints.
- Shows respect for other team members.
- Facilitates good rapport between team members.
- Establishes good rapport with team members.
- Relates to all kinds of people tactfully, from shop floor to executives
CollaborationCollaboration focuses on actively working together to achieve shared goals and solve problems. This dimension highlights knowledge-sharing, cooperative problem-solving, open participation, and fostering interdepartmental collaboration. It ensures that individuals work collectively in an environment where ideas, resources, and expertise are exchanged fluidly.
- Creates a culture that fosters and values collaboration.
- Applies knowledge of team behavior to help achieve organizational goals and objectives.
- Encourages collaboration with other departments.
- Works cooperatively with others to solve problems.
- Works well with other team members.
- Helps other team members to research solutions to a problem.
- Works with other team members on the project.
- Works with other team members to achieve objectives.
- Shares resources and information with the team.
- Joins with other team members to brainstorm solutions to the problem.
- Works with other team members to identify bottle necks in the production process.
- Encourages, promotes and rewards collaboration for improved performance
- Encourages collaboration of fellow employees to achieve results.
- Promotes open participation and communication within department and throughout the organization.
- Works to get buy-in of individuals based on common good of business.
Teamwork and Team BuildingTeamwork and Team Building emphasizes strengthening relationships, fostering a supportive team environment, and promoting cohesion beyond task completion. This dimension centers on cultivating strong interpersonal connections, creating a team spirit, facilitating team-building activities, and ensuring a productive group dynamic. It prioritizes long-term unity and engagement, helping individuals feel connected and motivated.
- Encourages teamwork and collaboration.
- Builds relationships across boundaries and with key stakeholders by developing informal and formal networks.
- Provides assistance and support to other team members when needed
- Fosters teamwork rather than individual competition
- Emphasizes the importance of getting individuals to work as a team
- Creates a climate that encourages team participation.
- Promotes a team spirit within and outside department; partners with other groups.
- Regularly attends team meetings.
- Partners with people from other work units to improve overall performance
- Facilitates team-building within the leadership team
- Translate team-building theories into usable tools and techniques appropriate for team members' needs
- Provides coaching and team-building ideas/opportunities for district core team and branch managers
- Provides coaching and team-building opportunities for area core team and Divisional team
- Provides coaching and team-building ideas/opportunities for market core team and district managers
- Facilitates conflict resolution discussions between individuals in different teams
Decision MakingDecision Making focuses on guiding teams through structured problem-solving and informed choices. This dimension highlights analyzing information, facilitating discussions, balancing different viewpoints, and ensuring that decisions align with long-term team goals. It prioritizes deliberate action and sound judgment, helping teams make effective choices even in uncertain situations.
- Contributes to and supports team decision-making process
- Facilitates team discussions and problem-solving
- Facilitates effective decision-making practices to further develop the team.
- Helps the team decide what long term goals need to be met.
- Helps the team exercise good judgment by making sound and informed decisions.
- Helps the team make effective business decisions by ensuring the correctness of Company's reports/resources.
- Makes decisions that positively impact team performance.
- Helps the team balance analysis with decisiveness in making decisions.
- Helps the team make good decisions even under conditions of uncertainty.
- Makes decisions that support the team's goals and objectives.
- Considers the impact and implications of decisions on the team.
- Facilitates the development of team/unit work standards
FlexibilityFlexibility emphasizes adjusting to new ideas, processes, and team dynamics in response to evolving circumstances. This dimension centers on openness to change, embracing new approaches, bouncing back from setbacks, and adapting to different working styles. It prioritizes agility and adaptability, ensuring the team remains cohesive and responsive to shifting conditions.
- Is open to new ideas that may change own goals for benefit of the team
- Encourages other team members to adopt new procedures.
- Facilitates effective teamwork during periods of change.
- Helps the team to bounce back from obstacles.
- Helps the team bounce back from obstacles to progress.
- Adjusts to changes in the composition of the team.
- Helps identify new opportunities for the team to explore.
- Is open to alternative ways to accomplish goals suggested by the team.
- Open to the perspectives/viewpoints of other team members.
- Able to adjust to new ways of working on the team.
- Can handle changes made by the team without complaining.
Role ModelRole Model emphasizes demonstrating exemplary team behavior and inspiring others through actions. This dimension centers on active participation, commitment to team goals, problem-solving, and leading by example. It prioritizes influence and leadership, encouraging others to follow a strong standard of teamwork.
- Acts as an effective team player
- Actively participates as a team member
- Actively participates in the work of teams; seeks and listens to others' contributions
- Comes across as a reliable, committed team member
- Effective team player
- Committed to the successful completion of team goals.
- Actively and openly participates in team meetings.
- Is committed to the success of the team.
- Models excellent team behavior; recognizes "out-of-bounds" behavior and addresses as appropriate.
- Uses a system to document team members' motivators and uses this tool to inspire team to produce great results
- Helps other managers in need of assistance, such as providing needed resources (co-workers, supplies, etc.)
- Works effectively with all departments, district and area staff, and R&D
Rewards and RecognitionRewards and Recognition focuses on acknowledging and celebrating the achievements and contributions of team members. This dimension highlights formal and informal recognition, creating reward programs, and ensuring employees feel valued for their efforts. It prioritizes motivation and appreciation, encouraging individuals to perform at their best by reinforcing positive contributions.
- Recognizes and respects the contributions and needs of each individual.
- Finds opportunities to recognize and reward team members.
- Lets team members know when they have done well.
- Recognizes the contributions of the team.
- Creates and implements team reward and recognition programs
- Recognizes contributions of others, and celebrates team accomplishments.
Coaching and SupervisionCoaching and Supervision emphasizes guiding team members toward achieving goals, resolving conflicts, and ensuring the team is structured effectively. This dimension centers on mentoring, providing constructive feedback, facilitating learning opportunities, and addressing obstacles to enhance overall team performance. It prioritizes leadership and structured guidance, helping the team work efficiently while promoting organizational growth.
- Coaches team members to work toward a common goal.
- Identifies and resolves conflicts within the team to increase team effectiveness
- Coaches team on how to solve problems, plan, and meet organizational goals and objectives.
- Coaches team members
- Creates opportunities to learn with other team members
- Promotes organizational growth by stressing personal and team responsibility for learning and performance
- Provides direct feedback to team members on behavior that is negatively impacting the team's effectiveness
- Performs co-worker assessments with equal amounts of constructive and positive documented feedback
- Ensures that the right people are on the team in the appropriate roles, including who should be team leader for a particular project/situation.
FairFair emphasizes equitable participation, shared workload, and inclusive decision-making within the team. This dimension centers on ensuring that responsibilities are distributed fairly, that diverse perspectives are considered, and that credit is shared among all contributors. It prioritizes equity and mutual respect, fostering an environment where everyone feels included and valued.
- Carries his/her share of the workload
- Fosters respect and understanding among team members
- Shares credit for accomplishments with team members
- Makes sure each team member participates in the task.
- Creates teams that have diverse membership (e.g., gender, race, location, business, function etc.) to ensure multiple viewpoints are considered.