Group cohesion: key to production and performance

What is group cohesion

Group cohesion is understood as the the bonding capacity that a given group has. It is usually used when talking about a group of people who should be in a group. united to achieve the same goal, such as in a work team within a company that is working on a specific project. 

Benefits of group cohesion

The main benefit of a work team with high group cohesion is that each member its members works in a more coordinated way with the rest. This implies that the team as a whole is more productive and shows higher performance indices than those with weaker group cohesion.

On the other hand, in addition to greater production and group performance, teams with high group cohesion present lower levels of stress at work, as well as a greater resolution capacity and greater adaptability to unforeseen situations, which entails added benefits that also contribute to the already indicated improvement in productivity. 

How to develop group cohesion

Given the benefits of strong group cohesion, numerous tools have been developed to enhance it in teams that show low levels of cohesion as a group. Some of the ones that offer the best results are the following:

• Shared leadershipTeams with shared leadership show greater group cohesion than those without. This doesn't necessarily mean there isn't a leader within the team, but rather that decision-making is carried out by consensus and not as a unilateral decision by the leader, whose role is more focused on the management and supervision of tasks than on decision-making regarding those tasks. 
• Flexibility and adaptabilityWork environments that offer greater flexibility and adaptability tend to have higher rates of group cohesion. In this regard, taking initiatives that can improve Work-life balance, as well as the possibility of remote working, are examples that help improve the flexibility of work teams. 
• Enhance communication spacesAnother key aspect for improving group cohesion is the creation of communication spaces where all team members can express themselves freely and with authority. This way, it's avoided that ideas are not valued and debated, which in turn fosters the integration of all team members with the joint objective. 
• Continuous assessmentAnother element that improves group cohesion is the continuous assessment of team members individually and of the team as a whole. This form of assessment leads to increased commitment from each member and the team as a whole, both to the project and to their colleagues, which considerably improves cohesion and performance. 
• Improving working conditionsWorking conditions that foster employee satisfaction as a worker help them to integrate into the work group and increase their commitment to the project. In this regard, some solutions might include a direct increase in salary or an improvement in working hours. Likewise, other alternatives such as Flexible remuneration allow the employee to increase his or her purchasing power without the direct costs to the company of a traditional wage increase.