As the old cliché goes, teamwork makes the dream work. As most workers today know, teams have come to dominate the contemporary workplace. A decade ago, the Harvard Business Rating wrote that teamwork and collaboration had already taken over work, sometimes beyond the preferences of employees. Over the past twenty years, employers have come to appreciate that the old hierarchical style of workplace organization and structure no longer works for a workforce transitioning to a majority of Millennial and Gen Z workers. In fact, siloing and hierarchy are often an active hindrance to an organization’s growth and pursuit of innovation.
If you are a member of a high-performance team, you already know the value of teamwork and many of the strategies that help make teams more effective. However, you may not think about how proper equipment storage can contribute to team performance.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most important reasons to invest in proper equipment storage to help improve team performance.
Improvements To Efficiency
A high-performance team works like a well-oiled machine, and that means maximizing efficiency. When tools and other equipment are properly stored, team members are able to access them quickly and effectively, cutting out any downtime or delays caused by searching for lost or misplaced equipment.
This, in turn, makes projects run more smoothly and allows for them to be completed more quickly. Similarly, storing tools in a well-defined proper location helps to keep clutter to a minimum, reducing distractions and letting team members move more easily, thus boosting productivity.
Keeping Equipment In Good Condition
You may not think about equipment maintenance as a team performance issue, but keeping your tools and other equipment in good working order is key to a successful team project. Without tools in good working condition, there is no way to ensure that the tools will be available to complete your project on time. No one wants to be the member of the team who has to requisition new tools and explain to management that carelessness or mismanagement was responsible for the previous set of tools becoming unusable or damaged. Proper storage and maintenance are a regular part of a high-performing team’s responsibilities.
Improvements To Safety
A high-performance team typically has a stellar safety record. Proper equipment storage contributes to a safe working environment and can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace. For example, when you properly store tools in a tool organizer, you minimize the chances of tools being misplaced or mishandled, thus removing one of the leading causes of tool-related workplace injuries. After all, sharp or heavy tools are more likely to cause injury when not stored properly. Similarly, when tools are stored properly, they are not able to fall onto the floor, creating a tripping hazard. Proper storage keeps everyone safer, improves team function, and reduces potential liability and costs.
Saves Money That Can Be Used For Other Team Needs
Proper tool storage doesn’t just make it easier for team members to access the tools they need; it also makes it harder for thieves to steal unattended tools. Secure storage options reduce the likelihood of equipment being lost, stolen, or unintentionally damaged, thus saving the organization money on costly repairs or replacements.
Thus, by protecting your tools from damage or loss with proper storage, you can maximize your investment and save money that can be better deployed to support the team in other aspects of its work.
Builds Stronger Team Bonds
Proper equipment storage can actually make a team stronger. First, proper tool storage creates an atmosphere of accountability where everyone shares responsibility for equipment storage and maintenance. By having designated storage areas and protocols, there is a clear record of who should be returning and maintaining each tool, thus reducing potential sources of conflict over equipment storage and maintenance.
Similarly, having clear policies about where tools and equipment belong promotes clear and effective communication and reduces the likelihood of miscommunication or arguments about where tools belong or who should be maintaining them. Beyond this, the shared responsibility of storing and maintaining the team’s equipment helps to foster an environment of respect, both for the team’s tools and for the teamwork involved in sharing the task of caring for them. This can help boost a team’s pride in itself and create stronger bonds among team members. Team members can be confident that they will always be ready for the next project with their tools in the proper place.