Rally Your Family Team Together Using the Psychology of Teamwork
We frequently hear about the importance of teamwork in sports, but we don’t talk about it as often in relation to our daily lives. More specifically, we don’t talk enough about the importance of team cohesion in our family unit. After all, these are the people we interact with the most, and as we navigate this “new normal” of the whole family being home all day, it is more important than ever that our family unit works together as a team.
On any team--sport or family--unity is created through a shared goal or objective. On a sports team, often the goal is to score points while preventing the opposing team from scoring points. Whatever the goal is, it must effectively unite the team members so that everyone is on-board and contributing¹. When teammates buy-in to the goal, the unit works together effectively, which leads to greater success and long term cohesion. A team that can work together, excels together.
Why does teamwork work?
Assigning team members a specific task is based on the concept of task cohesion or task focus². Task cohesion is a form of unity where all members work toward a shared goal by completing assigned tasks, even if the tasks have different deadlines. By outlining how each person's contribution is important to the team’s success, everyone is more likely to chip in their fair share of work (as long as the goal is important to them).
How do the principles of team sports apply to your family?
Consider your family members to be team members. Families include team members of all ages and each member should feel their responsibility is a valuable contribution to the end goal.
Family goals could include:
Cleaning the house
Reading a book together
Preparing dinner
Learning new skills, like riding a bike
Doing the laundry
Let’s take preparing dinner, for example. Start with choosing what you’re having for dinner. Involve everyone in making the decision, even if some of the suggestions are a little crazy (breakfast for dinner or homemade pizza spinners!). Assign kids safe food preparation tasks. While parents chop or cook the food, kids can clear and set the table.
Keep in mind that goals work best when there is a reward for the work. In sports, this is the game win, beating a rival team, or earning the league championship! The reward for your family’s dinner-time teamwork could be a healthy (but fun!) dessert, a family game night, watching a show, or getting to pick tomorrow night’s dinner.
You can use this simple approach to teamwork for other family goals, too. If the household goal is reading a new book together, one person can hold the book while someone else turns the pages. Rotate roles when every player wants the same job. If everyone works well together, reward the team with something that is valuable to your crew. For example, who chooses the next book or a family game night.
The shared buy-in approach works for big events and family treats, too. If the end-of-day goal is to watch Frozen II (again!), assign each teammate a specific responsibility to help make that happen. One teammate may be in charge of keeping the playroom clean while the other teammate feeds the family pets. Keep everyone motivated to contribute and focused on their role by putting the DVD in an area the kids will see often. This visual cue serves as a reminder of what the team is working towards: the long-awaited chance to sing along to “Into the Unknown” at the top of their lungs!
Look Out for Social Loafing
I’m sure at some point you’ve seen a child want something while another child could not care less. If one of the team members does not like the goal, there is a high chance they will not contribute to the team’s success. Often, this is exhibited by social loafing, an act of putting forth minimal effort, but just enough to prevent sticking out³. When this happens, other team members may become frustrated that they are putting in hard work, and yet the goal is not achieved. Getting everyone to work together can be a difficult feat, so it is important to set yourself up for success.
4 Ways to Strengthen Your Team Unit
Avoid social loafing and team conflict by creating shared goals that are important to everyone involved. Here are 4 ideas on how to do that:
Let everyone participate in the decision-making process and setting your family goal. Invite everyone to participate in the discussion. Value everyone’s opinion. Collaborate to make decisions.
Show how goals connect. “Keeping the house clean means that you can have a friend over for a play date.”
Offer a bit of give-and-take wisdom. “If we help your brother reach his goal, then we will help when you choose your goal.”
Give each of the jobs a title. The “Team Captain” can write the tasks down and the “Officer” can check the tasks off the list. Or, the person in charge of cleaning is the “Organization Master” and the one taking care of the pets is the “Pet Police.” See our blog, 5 Ways to Make Games and Activities Fun Again to learn how characters make things more exciting for kids.
More than anything, a cohesive and successful team requires that everyone feels they are a valued contributor to a shared end goal. By involving the whole team from start to finish and keeping it interesting for everyone, your team will be set for success. Don’t forget your earplugs for tonight’s movie feature!
By Rachel Hoeft, M.A., Director of Program Development, CORE Athletic Training
Rachel is the Director of Program Development at CORE Athletic Training, OC’s #1 Sports Academy. Rachel has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Psychology & Leadership, Master’s Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology and is completing her Doctorate in Sport & Performance Psychology. Rachel’s education in sport psychology and many years of competitive athletics enables her to work with athletes to identify and resolve issues that impact athletic performance and everyday life. Follow Rachel @rhoeftspc for insights into how mental skills training can improve athletic performance!
References
Taylor, J. (2016). Build a team culture for athletic success. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-prime/201609/build-team-culture-athletic-success
Smith, J. K. (2015). How to achieve team cohesion through competition in sport: An organizational model. The Sport Journal. Retrieved from http://thesportjournal.org/article/how-to-achieve-team-cohesion-through-competition-in-sport-an-organizational-model/
Høigaard, R., Säfvenbom, R., & Tønnessen, F. E. (2006). The relationship between group cohesion, group norms, and perceived social loafing in soccer teams. Small group research, 37(3), 217-232.