Working with Others

Employees who participate in WEPs become better team players who are motivated to work with others:

• Better Team Performance

• Improved Effectiveness of Supervisory Staff

• Improved Understanding of the Culture of the Organization

Employees who take part in workplace education programs are better equipped and motivated to work successfully with others. They gain a clearer appreciation of how teamwork is essential to workplace success and how they can contribute to the performance of the team. At the same time, they gain skills that they feel make them better team players who can perform at the same level as their colleagues.

WEPs also build bridges among employees from different divisions and levels and help them gain a clearer understanding of other people’s jobs across the organization. Employees find that the training experience itself enables them to co-operate with other employees who were previously divided from them by cultural-linguistic barriers. As their capacity for working without having to depend on others for essential information and explanations of workplace practices and plans increases they are no longer in relationships of dependency. Instead, they are able to work with others in true teams where everyone contributes as equals. Employees gain greater job satisfaction, job security and opportunities for advancement when they can work effectively with others.

Successful employees know how to work with others effectively. Many employees note that their organization relies heavily on teamwork. Over 70 per cent stated that team performance improved with WEPs and just under 70 per cent said that the effectiveness of supervisory staff improved.

Being able to work with others is an essential skill for employees. Taking part in WEPs gives employees a much better sense of how the overall system works and how they fit within the organization. They feel an increased awareness of how their actions can contribute to better team performance and workplace success. They note that the programs help them to work as a team rather than individually and help them to understand how teamwork can increase their effectiveness. One employee, a technician at a large mid-western hi-tech company, commented that as each individual learns, the overall team is improved.

"We learned that we are all in this together and that it is beneficial to help each other so we all can succeed."

By bringing together participants from different divisions and different levels, the programs often build a better understanding of other people’s jobs across the organization, ultimately improving team performance. A sawyer at a sheet metal manufacturing company explained that the program helped team members to work together based on an increased understanding of individual abilities. The improved listening and communication skills help him to adapt to the needs of his co-workers.

"If all the members of the team understand each other and each other’s tasks, the team works better."

The concept of teamwork also encompasses the relationship between employees and their supervisors. Employees note that WEPs contributed to a more cooperative and understanding work environment within their group. Both employees and their supervisors are able to do their respective jobs, which, in the end, means that the overall team works more effectively.

"When the supervisor has something to explain, we understand better and there is much less confusion. We understand the English, and in turn, are able to do what they want us to do much more effectively."

Skills and confidence gained by taking part in WEPs enable employees to be better team players by empowering them to contribute as equals to the team rather than having to rely on others for help. One hospital employee at a large eastern hospital explained that his job requires him to be able to do his own work while still working in a team. As he put it: "Everyone on the floor has their task and everyone is busy. If you evaluate what need to be done it makes the floor run a lot smoother. They don’t want to have to deal with your tasks as well." In particular, individuals lacking core literacy skills often find themselves having to rely on others for help. While most colleagues are willing to help out these individuals, it places these low-skilled people in tenuous positions of dependence on others rather than as full team members.

"The people who can’t read are isolated. We have to help them read things like the bulletins. But they can’t always rely on others, because what if we’re not there?"

Employees who gained English language skills note the decrease in dependence on others. One employee likened not being able to speak English in the United States to being mute, and not being able to read English to being blind. Employees lacking English language skills often speak of feeling isolated and out of touch with what is happening in the organization. WEPs that improve their language capacity enable them to rely less on others and allow them to work with colleagues as a full team member rather than in a position of dependence.

"In general, if I know more English I can know what is going on in the hospital and feel more part of the hospital. I can work and communicate with my co-workers."

WEPs also help improve the working and personal relationships among employees from different linguistic or cultural groups. Being able to communicate in a common language often builds bridges between these groups. In addition, employees who participated in programs with an intercultural component remarked on their increased understanding and appreciation of the viewpoints of others. All of these factors lead to more effective teamwork and more satisfying work relationships.

"Before the ESL training, staff members didn’t speak to each other much. Now not only have they developed work relationships, but also friendships."

- Assistant Manager, Housekeeping
Large Northwestern Hotel

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Last updated: February 23, 2001 .