The 2024 Summer Olympics kicks off later this week in Paris, and whether you’re planning on watching the games or not, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of competition. It’s why we put on our annual LCS Olympics, after all! We find that engaging in friendly competition at the office helps to foster a fun environment and team camaraderie. In fact, there’s a lot that a company Olympics—and the Summer Olympic Games—can teach us about teamwork in the workplace.
While you may not be an Olympic athlete, you can work together with your co-workers, just like the Olympians do, to the benefit of all. According to Gallup, higher levels of team engagement can result in 21% more profitability, and a Stanford study reports that employees who work collaboratively are 64% more likely to focus on tasks for longer periods.
Cultivating a cooperative environment and effective teamwork is the key to a productive, engaged, and happy workforce. But how should you go about building a team worthy of a gold medal? We’ve rounded up the top strategies you can use to develop an award-winning team that will put your company on the podium.
Keep Cool Under Pressure
With the world watching, Olympians are the kings and queens of succeeding under pressure. And although you might not have a global audience of millions, you may still feel the pressure to perform well in your day-to-day at the office. However, just like Olympic athletes, you have the same valuable tool at your disposal to deal with a high-stakes workload—practice!
Olympians spend years perfecting their craft, training their bodies and minds to perform even under the most stressful circumstances. But they don’t do it alone; they have their coaches and teammates to help them practice, and you can too. Run your presentation by a co-worker before the big meeting, or have your supervisor check over your proposals before you submit them up the chain. The more practice you get in lower-stakes circumstances, the better your chances of performing well at your job when you have more on the line. Knowing you’ve prepared yourself and having confidence in your work, even when you’re under tight deadlines and a lot of pressure, can even rub off on the rest of your team. If you’re calm in the face of pressure, chances are your co-workers will also feel better about their performance.
Get Back Up, Even When You Fall
If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Even the most practiced Olympic athletes can still take a tumble on the mat or miss that crucial hurdle. The key to their overall success? They get back up and keep going.
At work, sometimes things don’t always go your way. Your proposal can be denied, or your project that you worked hard on comes back with feedback that you need to pivot and change everything. Or sometimes you just mess up, because you’re human and mistakes happen. It can be easy to dwell on what went wrong and beat yourself up for making a mistake, but just like Olympians, the best team players will dust themselves off and keep moving forward. Take accountability, re-evaluate your strategy, and then keep going; it will set an important example for the rest of your team that making mistakes isn’t the end of the world. Mistakes can be a learning opportunity, even for the most decorated of Olympic athletes.
Play to Each Other’s Strengths
Not everyone on an Olympic team is going to have the same strengths and weaknesses, and the same is true for collaboration in the office. Just like how Olympic gymnasts only compete in their best events, your team should know which members excel in which areas and assign projects and tasks accordingly. For leaders, effective delegation is the key to maintaining a successful team dynamic. Allowing your team to follow their interests and strengths fosters not only productivity, but also engagement and a sense of purpose.
Know What Matters
Finally, when it comes to effective teamwork, a lot can be said about having the right equipment for the job. For Olympians, that checklist involves their gear, but for the office, that could be any number of things. Making sure your team has the right resources to do their jobs is highly important to the success of any team. The latest software solutions, up-to-date training, and regular check-ins are all key components of a well-equipped team.
But arguably more important than the right equipment is the right attitude. A positive attitude among team members and leaders can lead to improved communication, trust, and respect among all members of the team, and the best way to succeed in this aspect is to lead by example. When you model optimism and empathy, your teammates can mirror your behavior, leading to an increase in motivation, focus, and overall improvement in team dynamics. Just watch the Olympians this summer when they cheer on their teammates—something as simple as a smile and praise can go a long way in cultivating positive attitudes and teamwork at work.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work at LCS
At LCS, our team thrives on open communication, collaboration, and a relaxed, positive environment. We provide plenty of opportunities for our employees to connect, both at work and at play. Whether it’s getting involved in any one of our team-building events, fostering career growth via our L.E.A.D. program, or by working with our Professional Development Coaches, we strive for a fun and connected workplace each and every day.
If you’re looking to kickstart your career and find a workplace where you feel like a true part of something bigger, look no further than LCS. Check out our open positions and apply to join our team today.
