Working With Teams

There are many strategies that leaders implement to drive effective team coordination. These include things like allocating responsibilities and accountability for the tasks, creating an environment that fosters collaboration, using effective communication techniques and providing direction and support to the team to achieve the goals effectively and efficiently. Here are some of the techniques commonly used by leaders for team coordination:

• Teamwork: This one may seem straightforward, but working in a team is essential for coordinating that team. Leaders skilled in teamwork can adequately delegate work to their team members, ensuring that no one has too much or too little to do. Also, a leader who focuses on teamwork is a leader who can easily motivate their team to provide their best work. Instead of being a boss who gives orders, they demonstrate that they are just as much a part of the team and genuinely care about their team members' progress. Teamwork allows a leader to feel more connected to their team and encourages the growth of a ‘work together environment,’ leading to increased productivity and happier work life.
• Fostering great communication: A strong leader can clearly and concisely communicate goals, tasks and other organisational needs to their team. Leaders should be masters in written and verbal communication to ensure expectations are presented to their employees in a way they can understand. Being an effective communicator also involves listening intently, speaking clearly, understanding body language and being conscious of your tone.
• Creating well–defined roles and empowering the team members: Being a good leader means knowing which of your team members are best suited to take on a project or task and empowering them to do so. Delegating tasks to other team members is an opportunity to showcase their skills while learning new ones and makes them feel more committed to their work.
• Sound planning and goal setting: The success of any team is often dependent on the team leader. Goal setting allows the team to work towards something and inspires team-work and innovation. Once the goals are set it is time to plan the execution of the goals along with plan for any contingency and problems that may arise along the way.

Team Building Activities

The right kind of team building exercises can help teams to work together more effectively and to highlight strengths and weaknesses in individual team members.

Video Title: Best team building activities for small groups

Watch Duration: all

Video Summary: Five team-building activities aimed at leaders of small groups

Pre Watch Question: Watch the short video for some great ideas for small-group team building activities.

Post Watch Task: Which activity appeals to you in particular? Can you think of any other relevant activities which would be good for small groups?

Source: YouTube Surf Office

Watch

Here are some resources for you to look at to get an idea of the variety of team building activities you could consider implementing in your workplace.

Cross-functional teams are groups composed of individuals from different departments or areas of expertise working together towards a common goal. In hospitality business management, where the guest experience relies on the smooth coordination of various functions—such as housekeeping, front desk, food and beverage, and marketing—cross-functional teams are essential for driving innovation, solving complex problems, and improving overall service quality.

Key Benefits of Cross-Functional Teams

• Enhanced Collaboration and Communication: Cross-functional teams break down silos between departments, encouraging open communication and collaboration. This allows for a more holistic approach to problem-solving, as team members bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the table.
• Improved Problem-Solving: By involving representatives from different departments, cross-functional teams can identify issues from multiple angles, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions. This diversity of thought helps in addressing complex challenges that a single department might struggle to resolve on its own.
• Innovation and Creativity: The combination of diverse skills and knowledge in cross-functional teams fosters innovation. When people from various disciplines collaborate, they can generate creative ideas and strategies that drive business growth and enhance the guest experience.
• Efficiency and Speed: Cross-functional teams can accelerate decision-making and implementation processes by bringing all relevant stakeholders together. This reduces the need for lengthy approval chains and ensures that decisions are made with a full understanding of their impact across the organisation.

Examples of Cross-Functional Teams in Hospitality

• Hotel Launch Team: When opening a new hotel, a cross-functional team might be formed to oversee the launch. This team could include representatives from operations, marketing, finance, human resources, and IT. Each member would contribute their expertise to ensure that all aspects of the hotel’s opening—such as staff recruitment, marketing campaigns, financial planning, and IT infrastructure—are executed seamlessly. This collaborative approach ensures that the launch is well-coordinated and aligns with the overall business strategy.
• Guest Experience Improvement Team: A hotel might create a cross-functional team focused on improving the guest experience. This team could include members from the front desk, housekeeping, food and beverage, and customer service departments. By working together, they can identify pain points in the guest journey, such as long check-in times or inconsistencies in room cleanliness and develop strategies to address these issues. For example, the team might implement a new check-in procedure that reduces wait times or introduce a training program to standardise housekeeping practices.
• Sustainability Initiative Team: Many hospitality businesses are increasingly focusing on sustainability. A cross-functional team might be tasked with developing and implementing a sustainability strategy. This team could include members from facilities management, procurement, food and beverage, and marketing. Their collective goal would be to reduce the hotel’s environmental impact by identifying opportunities for energy savings, sourcing eco-friendly products, reducing food waste, and promoting sustainability initiatives to guests. By involving multiple departments, the team ensures that sustainability efforts are integrated across the entire operation.

Challenges and Best Practices

While cross-functional teams offer numerous benefits, they also come with challenges. Differences in departmental priorities, communication styles, and expertise can lead to conflicts or misunderstandings. To overcome these challenges, hospitality managers should:

• Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities: Ensure that each team member understands their role and how it contributes to the team’s objectives.
• Establish Common Goals: Align the team around a shared goal that transcends individual departmental objectives, fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
• Facilitate Open Communication: Encourage regular and open communication within the team to address issues promptly and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
• Provide Leadership and Support: Effective leadership is crucial in guiding cross-functional teams, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that the team stays focused on its objectives.

You’ve reached the end of the learning material for this topic. Let’s recap the key points, and then make sure you’ve completed all the forum discussions and activities.

Team collaboration is important for

• Co-ordination across departments
• Enhancing communication
• Impacts guest experience

Cross-functional teams are teams composed of members from different departments within an organisation who work together towards a common goal. Benefits of cross-functional teams include:

• Better collaboration and communication across the organisation
• mproved problem-solving through diverse perspectives
• Fostering innovation and creativity
• Improved efficiency
• Accelerated decision-making