--- title: 3 Facts about Fostering Teamwork that Change Managers Should Know description: Collaboration, listening skills, and conflict management are vital skills for fostering teamwork. But they need to be practiced to be effective. image: https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/210301/Article%20Photos/210329-Fast%20Facts-featured-shutterstock-1708622539.jpg --- [![Activate Behavior Change](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/logodark-1.svg "Activate Behavior Change")](https://www.cognician.com) - About Us - [Clients](https://info.cognician.com/clients) - [Security & Privacy](https://info.cognician.com/security-and-privacy) - [Our Team](https://info.cognician.com/our-team) - [Careers](https://info.cognician.com/cognician-careers) - [Contact Us](https://info.cognician.com/contact-us) - Our Approach - [Methodology](https://info.cognician.com/methodology) - [Features](https://info.cognician.com/features) - [Gamification](https://info.cognician.com/gamification) - Activation - [Activate Behavior Change](https://info.cognician.com/quest-collection) - [Activation Workshops](https://info.cognician.com/activation-workshops) - [Activation Courses](https://info.cognician.com/activation-foundations-certification-program) - Activate AI Adoption - [Copilot M365 Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/drive-microsoft-copilot-adoption) - [Copilot Agent Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/drive-ai-agent-adoption-with-cognicians-proven-change-platform) - [Copilot Chat Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/how-to-activate-copilot-adoption-and-empower-employees-to-work-smarter) - Resources - [Transformation Tactics](https://info.cognician.com/transformation-tactics) - [Research](https://info.cognician.com/resources) - [Thought Leadership](https://info.cognician.com/blog) - [Press](https://info.cognician.com/press-releases) - [Webinars](https://info.cognician.com/cognician-webinars) - [Log in](https://www.cognician.com/login) - [Book a Call](https://info.cognician.com/book-a-call) ![210329-Fast Facts-desktop-shutterstock-1708622539](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/210329-Fast%20Facts-desktop-shutterstock-1708622539.jpg) [Back to Blog](https://blog.cognician.com) # 3 Facts about Fostering Teamwork that Change Managers Should Know Fast Facts by Betty Kayton 29 March 2021 - - [Team Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/team-transformation) [Digital Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/digital-transformation) - - *These fast facts explore how change managers can develop more effective, productive, and cohesive teams, improve communication, and foster harmony.* --- All too often, employee development programs focus on individual knowledge and skills. But what about encouraging people to think and work more collaboratively? To think more in terms of how they fit in with their team? How they may become more of a team player? Let’s take a look at the three top fast facts that change managers should know about building great teams. **Fact 1: Collaboration and the sharing of ideas will produce more effective and productive teams** Collaboration is the defining characteristic of a great team. Without it, a team can become the breeding ground of conflict and discontent. We all know that there is no “I” in team. But as Morpheus says in *The Matrix*, “There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” Learning programs should drive greater collaboration by prompting learners to think deeply about their role within the team. To think about the effect of what they do and say on their fellow team mates. And to [reflect](https://info.cognician.com/how-reflection-helps-us-learn-according-to-science-opinion-piece) on the benefits that come with working collaboratively with each other. Like choosing the red pill in *The Matrix*, impactful learning programs should open the door to learners’ thoughts and ideas. And empower them to share those with their team. All in the name of activating behavior change and moving the team forward towards achieving its goals.  **Fact 2: Listening skills improve communication and foster harmony** One of the most important skills an employee can have is the ability to listen and put themselves in the other person’s shoes. We all want to be heard and to feel like our work is having a positive impact on achieving team goals. Great learning programs get learners to practice being open to the opinions and ideas of others. To reflect on the value of differing and opposing [perspectives](https://info.cognician.com/how-problem-based-learning-can-activate-behavior-change). We all have unconscious biases and preconceived ideas. Impactful learning programs should help learners expose and unpack these biases. Great learning programs should help, to quote Morpheus again, “free your mind.” Effective team members listen to and respect each other. They are in sync. They gel.  **Fact 3: Building conflict resolution skills will produce more cohesive teams** No matter how great your team is and how well they [work together](https://info.cognician.com/how-to-get-your-team-rowing-to-the-same-rhythm-and-boost-results-opinion-piece), conflict is bound to happen. And how each team member handles that conflict has a huge impact on the cohesion and effectiveness of the team. Impactful learning programs should model a wide range of real-life conflict scenarios. And they should offer up realistic and workable solutions. As Morpheus says, “Welcome to the real world.” Real-time experimentation and feedback helps employees to figure out what works and what doesn’t. In the process, they learn how to work better with other people. The more cohesive the team is, the more productive it is. When selecting development programs to [transform](https://info.cognician.com/topic/team-transformation) your teams, ask yourself if they activate teamwork and stimulate collaborative thinking. Do they nudge learners to put themselves in other people’s shoes? To think about things from other people’s perspectives? And to think about what impact their words and actions have on those around them? The more employees practice these skills, the more effective they will be as team players and work mates. ### Related Articles [![5 Myths That Are Breaking Your Performance Reviews](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/feedback%20.png)](https://info.cognician.com/blog/5-myths-that-are-breaking-your-performance-reviews) 11 July 2025 ## [5 Myths That Are Breaking Your Performance Reviews](https://info.cognician.com/blog/5-myths-that-are-breaking-your-performance-reviews) Debunking performance review myths and breaking down why real-time feedback is the future of performance. [Team Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/team-transformation) [Digital Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/digital-transformation) [![Data is Everywhere. Does Your Organization Know What to Do With It?](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/blog_dataworld_banner.jpg)](https://info.cognician.com/blog/data-is-everywhere-does-your-organization-know-what-to-do-with-it) 2 August 2022 ## [Data is Everywhere. Does Your Organization Know What to Do With It?](https://info.cognician.com/blog/data-is-everywhere-does-your-organization-know-what-to-do-with-it) *Data fluency is increasingly important for today’s organizations. Colin Sloman discusses why and how Cognican can help.* [Team Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/team-transformation) [Digital Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/digital-transformation) [![Leaders Who Listen: How to Collaborate in Diverse Teams](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/2022%20blog%20post%20images/220301-march/220308%20leaders%20who%20listen-feature.png)](https://info.cognician.com/blog/leaders-who-listen-how-to-collaborate-in-diverse-teams) 8 March 2022 ## [Leaders Who Listen: How to Collaborate in Diverse Teams](https://info.cognician.com/blog/leaders-who-listen-how-to-collaborate-in-diverse-teams) *Nothing says "collaboration" quite like the launch of a space rocket.* [Team Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/team-transformation) [Digital Transformation](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/digital-transformation) ![logolight (1)](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/logolight%20(1).svg) Cognician’s founding belief is that people are capable of great things when their behavior is driven by meaningful conversations, great questions, powerful ideas, and deeply felt emotions. 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