Challenges of Teamwork, Essay Example

Groups and teams are put together to accomplish complex tasks and provide the collaboration of multiple points of view as well as educational insight. One person may be able to provide one skill but is lacking in another. Through a group setting, where one is incapable, the others are capable, and so provide a safety net to make sure everything gets done. Still, some groups and teams work as a collective one to maximize the outcomes and efficiencies of the task at hand and other perform at less successful rates.

There are certain elements, of course, such as a training plan, which can be used to increase the effectiveness of groups and teams by addressing challenges and the benefits of communications, collaboration, and conflict.

Although many factors contribute to the success or failure of a group or team, it is ultimately the discipline and information set forth in a training plan that will generate the highest probability of maximum achievement.

Now, with that in mind what are particular aspects that can make the aforementioned training plan, or schedule, the most effective? Well first off there has to be a uniform understanding that everyone in the group is working together for the whole group to succeed. There absolutely has to be teamwork. One would actually think that this goes without saying but sometimes there is still that one person who is going to slack off and not do their share.

Sometimes even more annoying, is when there is that one person who insists on doing everything themselves and does not let anyone provide say or input. These people generally develop out of exposure to groups where nothing has been completed unless they accomplished everything on their own. While the person’s initiative for the objective is admirable, there still has to be trust in the group as a whole for the maximum potential to be reached, and ultimately, that is the purpose of assembling a group in the first place.

With both types of group member, or team mate, in perspective, it is easy to see why the most important aspect in a training plan is the team. If someone is out to be lazy and do nothing, or if someone is in it to do everything, they are only thinking about themselves. The point is for everyone to share what they know so that success is reached.

Teamwork goes hand in hand with communication. Even if a group is willing to work together and understand that they must for the primary objectives to be reached, there are still going to be problems if no one knows how to, or understands the importance of, divulging information for the good of the group.

“The function of team communication is to empower and inform the team with one vision and common goal. Team communication enables the members to be on the same side, which increases motivation and productivity,” (Papa, 2011).

Not only does communication provide an important function for the dynamic of the group, but there is also a huge significance in the communication within a team.  It is significant because it has the “ability to either build the team or tear it down. When communication is absent or ineffective in a team, the team unity will suffer. There will be lack of vision, motivation and purpose for existing. Where there is effective group communication, the group operates with one mind, spirit and common goal,” (Papa, 2011).

And finally, simply put, communication is important because without it there is confusion, misunderstanding, and inaccurate information. If people cannot, or will not express themselves, how will anything ever get done?

Now, if teamwork and communication have been covered, everything should, at this point, be fine and dandy correct? No. Whenever people are working together, there is going to be the potential for conflict. For a group, conflict can be used to push the bar and make even farther advancements towards the ultimate objective, it is all in how the differences of opinion are evaluated and put to use.

“While a certain amount of disagreement is natural within any team, when the differences escalate to conflict, the team’s ability to function effectively and the likelihood of achieving” “goals are threatened,” (“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009). Unlike differences of opinion, “conflict implies a personal or emotional element,”(“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009). “The team no longer focuses on performing its assigned task, rather, it revolves around a battle of wills and personalities,” (“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009).

Because conflict is dealing with such a dynamic, it can become a “polarizing force,” (“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009).  Arising as a “result of values, culture, gender and ideologies, and escalate,” these “normally neutral issues into points of contention,” (“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009). “Because the basis of conflicts is so emotionally charged, the team is essentially blind-sided, and winning the battle gains greater significance than coming to a consensus,” and therefore reaching the objectives of the group.

“In order to resolve the conflict and refocus the team on developing a workable solution, diffusing the conflict must be seen as more valuable than winning the battle. Team leaders must work to establish empathy, respect and commonality within the group,” (“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009). “Conflict is a normal element of human interaction, and cannot be avoided. The manner in which we deal with conflict, however, is a choice,” (“Resolving Conflict Within Teams,” 2009).

Now, with these three key elements applied by some sort of training program, any group should be able to reach their goals and objectives, or at least have a heightened percentage of success. While of course, there are always going to be other components that can help make or break a group or team with their addition, teamwork or collaboration, communication, and conflict, are going to be any groups ultimate keys to success.

The skills required to build a team or group are critical to success and achieving the group’s objective. Then there is going to be the issue of effectiveness, and that can be best achieved when there is an understanding of how a group collectively works together. Still, if the group or team cannot work together all of the effort put forth to get them all together and on the same task, all of the for planning and everything else was merely accomplished for naught.

References

(2009). “Resolving Conflict Within Teams.” Six Sigma Service. Date Accessed: 02 February 2011.

Papa, Joey. (2011). “What is the Importance of Team Communication?” eHow.com Date Accessd: 02 February 2011.