In any business, large or small, good teamwork is essential for morale, productivity and efficiency. In particular, working in a warehouse environment can prove challenging, involving many demanding and often painstaking jobs. In this article, we assess some primary ways to encourage good teamwork which can help make stock control and work life easier for everyone.
Implement Lean Manufacturing For Better Stock Control
Lean manufacturing can help to improve teamwork in the workplace because of its emphasis on producing more with less. This means less time wastage, better stock control and a more efficient use of resources, as well as less overheads to mass produce. Lean manufacturing can encourage better teamwork during the production process by reducing the work load and fostering a more efficient, more productive work place. Lean manufacturing also streamlines the manufacturing tasks involved, facilitating a smoother production process by improving organisational structure. This will help to boost individual morale and therefore team morale, making for a more pleasant working environment.Communication
The productivity and efficiency of your business depends on your employees having good communications skills, especially where jobs require working together. Aside from this, keeping an open line of communication between staff members is a good way to build interpersonal relationships which can act to boost overall morale. Keeping up morale is particularly important where staff are required to carry out difficult or strenuous warehouse operations as a team. Lee Fisher, an HR manager at Blinds Direct, argues that role switching is a great way to give staff members an appreciation for roles other than their own. With this method, each team member switches roles with a colleague, helping to build interpersonal relationships with others and fostering collaboration. This sets a great precedent for later work, and is a great way to break the ice between new employees. Good communication is also key to ensuring good stock control, especially in larger operations where multiple departments need to work together. Without an open line of communication between everyone involved, mistakes can be made which may have ongoing consequences.Leadership
A good leader will boost morale, encourage cohesion and facilitate collaboration between staff members by leading by example. Ensure your team is being managed or supervised by someone with excellent team-building skills, to keep the group unified. A good leader is also a reliable one, so ensuring your staff have someone dependable to lean on is a great way to encourage unification and cooperation among staff. According to career advisor and hiring manager of ResumeCompanion.com, Lauren McAdams, rotating staff in different leadership roles is an essential method for improving teamwork. Giving individual staff members different leadership roles in a variety of projects demonstrates your trust in them, and this boosts morale. Moreover, if staff members feel appreciated they are more likely to work harder and encourage others to do the same. Lastly, a successful leader can help ensure accuracy and efficiency of stock control procedures, acting as an overseer. This way, staff have a singular, reliable individual to liaise with regarding any inventory issues, preventing mix ups and confusion that can occur without clear supervision.Setting Goals
Setting both short and long-term goals for the group is an excellent way to bring staff together, by providing an incentive to cooperate and work as a team. It is also a good idea to be open to reevaluating these goals according to staff needs.Acknowledge Staff Strengths
Pay attention to the strengths, special talents or skills of each individual team member. Acknowledge these strengths and come up with ways in which your staff can put their special knowledge to good use. Doing so will demonstrate that you respect your staff as individuals, and this will give them an incentive to work with others and to lead by example.