Leadership: If you want teamwork - Pay for teamwork!

I'm often asked what is the "secret" to great teamwork. While there are many variables, the single greatest and overriding element I have found to great teamwork is simple: if you want team work...pay for team-work!

My definition of teamwork is simple: to be a positive influence toward the common good. The common good by default crosses departmental boundaries, reaches beyond silo-building into business building. (FYI - this is also my definition for leadership, for what is leadership but to build productive teams for the common good).

It is ridiculous to think that we can generate "teamwork" when different departments are recognized and rewarded for different things. When a sales staff is rewarded for top-line sales volume but a production manager is rewarded for efficienc, quality, and cost control, why should a salesman really care about the impact of increased sales on the production process?

The answer, therefore, is to recognize and pay people from a common good. For example, if both the sales team and the production team were bonused on overall customer satisfaction scores, they are far more likely to work together to ensure that sales does not overreach production quality.

So leaders, what say you?