TEAMWORK Working effectively and efficiently as part of a team can be challengin
ID: 2774152 • Letter: T
Question
TEAMWORK
Working effectively and efficiently as part of a team can be challenging. But when done properly, teamwork offers many benefits as different people bring their experience, education, knowledge, and skills to resolve a problem. The ability to work with others and collaborate in teams is an important skill in the world today. It is likely that, as a business professional, you will be called upon to work as a valuable member in an onsite or virtual team. The course project provides a practice environment in which you can build your collaborative and leadership skills.
For this discussion, address the following:
What experience (if any) have you had in working as part of a team?
What aspects of the experience were positive?
What aspects of the experience were negative?
What tips or best practices from your experience or from your readings can you offer that you believe can be used to make the team experience in this course a positive one?
Be sure to read Johnson's 2010 article, "Four Steps to Effective Collaboration," before you post your initial response to this discussion.
Explanation / Answer
Collaboration is a word that belongs in the same "warm fuzzy feelings" list as love, peace, and healthy eating. The decision to collaborate on a project instantly creates visions of heightened creativity, enlightened cooperation, and stunning results. The phrase "Let's collaborate on this" does not magically lead to a successful outcome, however. The Chicago Cubs prove that just because a group of highly talented people gets together in a team does not mean it can perform well.
Most effective groups, teams, or committees go through four separate stages before achieving effective collaboration. In 1965, psychologist Bruce Tuckman coined an unforgettable mnemonic for this process: forming, storming, norming, and performing. Groups must progress through the first three stages of development to successfully achieve stage four. Whether you are a group leader or simply a participant, your awareness of these four essential stages of tasks and expectations will help propel your collaborative efforts from an "oh well, maybe next season" experience to a successful venture with fabulous results.
FORMING is the first stage of group development. This is an orientation stage that can be compared to a first date. On a first date, relationships are polite and reserved. You are trying to get to know each other, trying to decide if this is a relationship you want to continue. Caution, confusion, and courtesy are dominant.
Members of your newly formed committee must also get to know each other. Together you must decide on the purpose and structure of the group and your roles within that structure. Some questions you might ask during this time include, "Who are these other people? What is expected of me.) Who is going to lead? What is supposed to happen?" Even if you have worked together with other group members for years, forming a new team requires this orientation period to establish goals and procedures.
This forming stage is not the time to expect free and open discussions or to create a consensus. In the beginning, fostering trust, encouraging relationship building, and clarifying purposes and expectations take precedence over making decisions or taking action.
If you are a committee chair, you play a very important role during this period. Group members will more likely interact directly with you rather than with other members. You need to direct the team clearly by establishing clear objectives, explaining task requirements, and generating a commitment to common goals. You should also encourage equal participation among team members.
This first stage is usually rather short. Often it can be accomplished in the first committee meeting. Whether you are a leader or just a member, you can help the group progress by focusing on activities that will build a positive working relationship.
The STORMING stage does not seem to fit with the goal of a cooperative team. The conflict, criticism, and confrontation that define this stage is the opposite of the diplomacy and peacemaking you would expect from a successful collaborative effort. Surprisingly, however, almost all observers of group development have noted that for a group to become an effective team, it must go through a period of internal strife. Most often this is centered on a struggle for leadership or influence within the group. Unless your committee faces this conflict, it will most likely become "stuck" or go "off-track."
During this confrontational stage your authority as chair may be challenged as others jockey for position as their roles are clarified. Working methods start to be defined. If you are a committee member you may feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do, or uncomfortable with the approach being used. You or others may even react by questioning how worthwhile the goal of the team is and resist taking on tasks. Some questions you may ask include "How will we handle dissension.) How can we make decisions amid disagreement? …
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