Collaborative Post¦ One of the best things about being in a relationship is that you are part of a team; you and your partner can face everything life throws at you together!
Effective teamwork will also help strengthen other areas of your relationship, like communication and emotional intimacy.
Whether improving your teamwork skills as a couple is a long term goal or you just need a nudge in the right direction, I’ve come up with some ways to help you improve this element of your relationship!
Get on the Same Page
An essential part of working as a team is fully understanding each other and being on the same page. You should both recognise your role in the team and clarify what you expect from each other.
If you often fall into traps of miscommunication, try to define what you mean by certain things before the chance of misunderstanding and unnecessary arguments take over. Being clear about what you mean will help you get on the same page more quickly, which can, in turn, boost teamwork!
Share the Load
Whether this means dividing housework evenly between you or dealing with problems together, try to share the load. This will unite you as a team as you work towards a common goal.
If you share loads, you are less likely to have petty arguments about the washing up! It’s important to make sure you both do your equal share. If doing the housework is a particular issue (like it is for so many of us!) why not do it together? Put on a fun playlist while one of you does the washing and the other does the drying; this way you get to spend some time together even if it is while doing some basic chores.
Sharing the load also applies to emotional labour; ask yourselves if you are both putting in the same amount of work to maintain your relationship.
Face Problems as a Unit
As many of us will know, relationships aren’t always plain sailing, and certain problems are bound to pop up. To garner stronger feelings of teamwork, you should try to approach a problem as a unit rather than treat it as a competition between the two of you.
Take a collaborative approach rather than a critical one. This means not playing the blame game; it can be easy to point fingers, but this is rarely ever constructive. Instead, work through problems together to reach solutions you both feel like you’ve had a hand in bringing about.
Do Enjoyable Activities Together
Doing something you both love can be a great team-building exercise. Getting bogged down in your mundane routine doesn’t provide much opportunity for you to grow as a couple.
Combine tried and tested activities you know you both enjoy with brand-new experiences. A sense of the unknown will bring you closer and help consolidate the feeling that you are a team and a good one at that!
Be Vulnerable
No matter how long you’ve been with your partner, being vulnerable can be a bit of a challenge sometimes. But being truly vulnerable and open with your other half can help create a stronger sense that you are a team.
Being vulnerable can also help cultivate support and honesty; if you frequently share intimate things with each other, this can help build up that affirming feeling that it is the two of you against the world!
Being vulnerable with each other will also strengthen ties of trust. Trust is an integral part of any relationship, and any kind of team needs to be built on its foundation!
Consider Relationship Counselling
If cultivating a good sense of teamwork is a particular issue in your relationship, you might benefit from seeing a couples therapist.
Relationship counselling, despite its often negative connotations, does not signal the end for a struggling relationship. Instead, it can be a positive process that helps couples become stronger than ever before! A counsellor will be able to identify where your teamwork skills are lacking and will help you build them up until working as an amazing team becomes second nature!
Hopefully, you will be able to use these tips to improve your teamwork skills and bring you closer as a couple!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post with Remainly.
Remainly is an online video service that provides expert relationship advice and couples counselling. Through a collection of videos, split into pathways, experienced therapist Andreas Løes Narum gives tailored guidance aimed at couples who want to improve their relationship, communication skills and intimacy.