My discussion with MIMARU Management included the value of teamwork in a hotel operation. I mentioned the TEAMS acronym, which means everyone achieves more service together. The MIMARU team try to manage expectations and make reality something the customer comes back to enjoy and enjoy. My two-hour discussion with some of the MIMARU team was enlightening and closed with much debate. We’ve shared views and observations about their customers and agree that MIMARU has a great future.
Teamwork in Japan is engraved in language. In the Japanese language, the word for trust.
(信頼) is a combination of two phrases; “to believe” and “to rely on.” This form of language is heavily translated into the working culture in Japan and is part of what makes the teamwork aspect so prevalent.
Team unity
Team unity of MIMARU staff is critical to their team’s success. If team members are not working together, obviously, they will be much less successful. When team members are working together, there is strength. I saw it in their customer service over and over.
The more trust team members have in each other, the better they will trust other team members’ intentions. Getting a team to a point where they trust each other is difficult but possible. Without team trust, you get unhealthy and personal conflict. With team trust, you get healthy and productive conflict focused on the issues.
What are you doing to build trust in your teams?
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a shared vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows ordinary people to obtain uncommon results.
How do the Japanese do such memorable customer service? Respect is the first word Mao said. They look up to the guests with respect because they pay money to the business that employs them and want to show appreciation through their service. She continued explaining that it’s done more or less naturally in Japan. It’s learnt from the parents how to treat people. Japan customer service is in the details and the accumulation of the little things done, cumulatively providing the service. In business, we call them “differentiators.”
10 Reasons Why Teamwork Fails
There are many reasons why teamwork fails, and learning how to work around them can help prevent it. For any business, getting co-workers to work as a team is essential if you want a productive and efficient workforce.
- A lack of leadership.
- The presence of disruptive personalities.
- Lack of proper training.
- Lack of defined goals.
- Lack of incentive.
- The teammate’s strengths and weaknesses are not considered.
- Fear of failure.
- Poor team meetings.
- Too much employee turnover.
- Individuals don’t feel included.
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is a success.”
Written by: Rick Coles
