Successful businesses recognize the importance of strong teamwork. When people work together cohesively to achieve common goals, both the company and its employees will thrive.

The hard part can be building that team mentality. Here are five tips to help you:

• Define the team. You may have several internal teams, each made up of representatives from different departments – or if your business is relatively small, your entire group may be working together on a special project. Either way, do your best to ensure that each team can provide a well-rounded viewpoint of the challenge at hand.
• Set clear goals. Make sure each team member understands why the group was formed and what the expectations are for the group as a whole. Be sure to encourage collaboration, while giving ownership of specific tasks to individuals based on skill and interest. A collective vision that gives team members an opportunity to make a real difference in the workplace – from improved processes to expanding product and service lines – will help them stay motivated.
• Build trust. When team members can trust each other and their managers, they’re more likely to change and support their colleagues in their efforts. Great teams allow each member to voice their opinions and ideas without fear of retribution.
• Model the behavior you seek. It’s critical that senior managers demonstrate qualities of good teamwork, including: helping others when they need support to complete a task, listening to input without judgement or criticism, commitment to meeting challenges and finding effective solutions.
• Reward great teamwork. Bonuses, gifts, and public knowledge should be given as much for positive teamwork as for individual performance.

By creating a work environment with a positive team approach, you’ll have happier employees – and very likely, a healthier bottom line.