What is Esprit De Corps Principle?
The principle esprit de corps refers to mainly two words “Unity is Strength” and “Teamwork”.
It states in the organization there should be harmonized teams that work together to achieve common goals.
It describes the organization as a team and all its employees are team members who must work together to realize desired goals.
The manager should establish coordination, cooperation, harmony, and mutual understanding to effectively execute team efforts.
This principle is the last of Henri Fayol’s 14 principles of management. He first wrote management principles in French words, so Esprit De Corps is the French word that means “Union is Strength” and “Team Spirit”.
It assumes that teamwork is critical to organizational success. Teamwork is always better than individual effort.
A manager should take steps to establish a team spirit in the organization.
When the manager maintains team spirit mutual understanding among employees builds up, develops a feeling of harmony with each other, better coordination, and helps to develop a positive attitude that promotes the efficiency of work.
Both management and employees should stand in unity, build mutual understanding, and work as a happy family.
Managers as the head of a family (organization) should maintain a working environment that encourages team spirits to perform better.
Advantages of Esprit De Corps Principle
By nurturing a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration, the Esprit de Corps principle enhances the overall effectiveness of an organization.
The following are the key benefits of esprit de corps principle of management:
Teamwork Makes Difficult Tasks Possible
The Esprit de Corps principle emphasizes the importance of teamwork, where collective effort enables employees to overcome challenges and complete tasks that would otherwise be too difficult or overwhelming for individuals.
When people work together towards a common goal, the combined effort makes even the most complex tasks achievable.
Development of Team Spirit Among Organizational Members
This principle fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and team spirit, creating a positive, collaborative work environment.
Employees who feel connected to their teams are more motivated to contribute their best work, knowing they are part of something bigger than themselves.
Harmony and Mutual Understanding Among Employees
By promoting unity and shared goals, Esprit de Corps cultivates harmony among employees.
It encourages mutual respect and understanding, leading to smoother interactions and a more supportive work environment.
This harmony reduces conflicts and builds strong interpersonal relationships, contributing to a positive workplace culture.
Promotes Coordination and Cooperation in the Organization
The principle reinforces the importance of coordination and cooperation. When teams work well together, tasks are completed more efficiently, and there is better alignment across departments.
Cooperation helps in aligning various efforts within the organization, ensuring that everyone is moving in the same direction towards common goals.
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Works Are Done with Great Efficiency
A unified team tends to perform tasks more efficiently than isolated individuals.
By working together harmoniously, employees can divide tasks based on strengths, support each other, and share resources, resulting in faster, more effective completion of projects and tasks.
Helps in the Efficient Achievement of Organizational Goals
When team spirit is strong and employees work together effectively, the organization can achieve its goals more efficiently.
The shared commitment to a common objective ensures that everyone is aligned, which leads to better performance and a greater likelihood of success in reaching both short-term and long-term organizational goals.
Results of Avoiding Esprit De Corps Principle
Avoiding the Esprit de Corps principle leads to the following results:
Lack of Team Spirit, Harmony, and Mutual Understanding
When the Esprit de Corps principle is ignored, employees may feel isolated and disconnected from their colleagues.
Without a strong sense of team spirit, there is a lack of harmony and mutual understanding, which can lead to misunderstandings and friction among coworkers.
This disunity erodes workplace morale and creates a less collaborative atmosphere.
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Conflicting Situations May Arise in the Organization
In the absence of the principle of esprit de corps, organizational members may prioritize individual goals over collective goals, which can lead to competition and conflicts.
Without a unified approach, employees may clash over resources, recognition, and responsibilities, which disrupts cooperation and decreases productivity.
Big Tasks Cannot Be Efficiently Completed Through Individual Efforts
Complex tasks often require collaborative efforts, where employees can share knowledge, divide responsibilities, and support each other.
Without team spirit, employees may struggle to complete challenging tasks independently.
This limits the organization’s ability to tackle large or difficult projects effectively, leading to delays or suboptimal results.
Conflicts with the Achievement of Organizational Goals
Without the alignment that teamwork provides, achieving organizational goals becomes much more difficult.
A lack of coordination and cooperation means that departments and teams might work in silos, reducing the efficiency of the entire organization.
This fragmentation can hinder progress toward achieving strategic objectives and may result in missed opportunities or failure to meet deadlines.
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Joshep Mahesh holds Bachelor in Management (BiM) Degree. He loves to share his business knowledge in his free time.