Team Effectiveness, Essay Example

Team Effectiveness is used in reference to the efforts and strategies that are used to get a group of people to work together and deliver the required results. The term is also used to refer to institutions or companies where people are required to work together as a unified team to deliver results or meet expected targets. Team effectiveness is used to define the cohesion and unified momentum with which these teams move towards achieving the targets (Bocco 2009).  The effectiveness of the team is also measured on the basis of the motivation as well as the blend of skills that are being portrayed in the team and how well these are organised and balanced towards the achievement of the set goals.

Effective teams are seen to have specific traits or characteristics that help them achieve their targets (Brodie 2009). The most important of these traits is the care for each other where the team members have concern for the needs of each other. The members also have openness amongst themselves as well as having trust amongst themselves which is very vital for efficiency at work. The other two important traits of effective teams are consensus at decision making as well as commitment to the decisions so arrived at. Similarly these teams handle their disagreements speedily and solve them fast therefore ensuring they forestall any incidences of philosophical discontinuity. Blair M (2008), points out that one important way that effective communication helps avoids philosophical discontinuity is through disambiguation.  Finally these teams demonstrate real listening as well as having the members express their feelings with openness.

The best organizational psychology model that is best suited for the purpose of team development is the custodial model. The employees who are members of the team are viewed as economic resources and they have plenty of time and space to wiggle and give direction to the matters of the team. This ensures maximum productivity of the team. This model therefore fits best in a team that is dependent on all team members contributing towards the development of the team.

There are two major causes of team conflicts and misunderstanding in teams. The first is poor communication and decision making while the other is philosophical discontinuity. These failures have serious impact on the team. First poor communication leads to low team morale and hence the teams are unable to share ideas and hence the cohesion at work is highly reduced.

Communication can serve as a very effective tool for dealing with philosophical discontinuity. Most important is the process of 360 degrees feedback as a tool of communication in passing forth information in an organization. This method ensures that information flows up and down the hierarchical ladder of the organization. Holding regular meetings with personnel of all cadres helps in ensuring that all information is passed ford between the different levels of management as well as the implementing arm (McNamara 2008). This ensures that there is no feeling of exclusion among any members of the organization and therefore forestalling the possibility that a wide philosophical gap will develop between the employees. Decision making on the other hand is other vital strategy that can utilised in combating philosophical discontinuity. First is the use of strategic development sessions. This ensures that every participant is given an opportunity to voice their ideas as well as their criticism on the plans of others. The resultant culture of consultation heightens respect and openness between the different members of the business management. By restoring communication and effective sharing of information between members of teams, the level of awareness is enhanced between the different team members and therefore ensuring that team conflicts are avoided.

References

Bocco, D. (2009). Team Effectiveness. Retrieved 21 September 2009. Available http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-team-effectiveness.htm.

Blair, G. M. Conversation as communication. Retrieved November 7, 2008 at: http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/Management/art7.html.

Brodie D (2009). Characteristics of effective teams. Retrieved 21 Septeber 2009. available: http://ezinearticles.com/?8-Key-Characteristics-of-Effective-Teams&id=817550.

McNamara, C. (nd). Basics in internal organizational communications. Retrieved November 7, 2008 at: http://www.managementhelp.org/mrktng/org_cmm.htm