Working
with Others
Employees who participate in
WEPs become better team players who are motivated to work with
others:
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.
Percentage of Employees
Citing Benefits Relating to
Working with Others
(n=37)
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."
-
Assembler,
Large Automobile Manufacturing Company
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."
-
Production Lead,
Large Scientific Instruments Manufacturing Company
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."
-
Quality Control Officer,
Large Southern Food Processing Company
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?"
-
Housekeeper,
Large Eastern Medical Center
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."
-
Animal Research Technician,
Eastern Medical Center
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 . |