[Date (January 1, 2014)]
Teamwork begins with each member. It is never fully realized unless equal efforts were evident from each body of the assembly. It means never having one member feel over-burdened with responsibilities. Oxford dictionary described teamwork as a collaboration of committed people towards an objective. A fulfilling execution of this falls under a lot of factors. These dynamics are proportionate with regards to the strengths and weaknesses of every individual generating a single team.
Before an in-depth insight about the topic, it is important to distinguish it from a mere ‘group.’ According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a group is a number of people set together on a collective relation with one another. Teamwork goes beyond a joint concern; it is the operational form of a group. Moreover, it sets personal gain aside and the best interest of the whole becomes the unprecedented goal. It pursues a common end that was designed to be undertaken by an alliance of associates. This builds a reliable stronghold that can facilitate a good work output.
There are circumstances when selecting a leader maximizes productivity. This vital role ensures a singular direction of a project and simple outline and allocation of task. However, this may come as a drawback when poor leadership results to conflict among members. This diminishes efficiency and may bring down the morale of a team. The right approach is to elect someone by mutual consensus of the entire group. However, selection of leadership is often impossible. Consequently, an effective follower is one who has respect to the chosen authority while imparting valuable support. A harmonious environment is achieved when these conditions are employed accordingly.
A Task Force is a group of helper with versatile work coverage. They are needed for short-term missions and acts on a shared purpose. Governments mainly hire these special types of teams such as campaign personnel or the US preventive services task force. Cross-functional Teams are a gathering of different team divisions in the purpose of a broader span of ideas and skill function, the health-care system for instance. It has different departments that parallel a line of work while integrating with other sectors in the hospital. Virtual team, by the name itself, provides assistance in the form of wireless correspondence. Examples of these are the web development teams who use network mediums to accomplish a specific task. Lastly, a Self-management team is a type of team that has its duties and obligations dictated by a staff party well outside the team. This includes various company teams and instructional teams at school.
There are many benefits of teamwork. After all, it is true that several heads are better than one. The first advantage is the avoidance of wasting too much time. Different delegation of responsibilities cuts working hours. Also, this gives ample time for quality-checking and improvements. It delivers a conscientious product.
The second one is the chance to learn and polish communication skills and compromise one member’s deficiency by combining with the ability of others. Shortcomings are recognized and overcame with a right amount of cooperation among team members. It can serve as an interchangeable two-way street of learning.
Thirdly, it gives the opportunity to brainstorm ideas of the different dispositions involving a distinct unit. These interactions are stimulating to the group and educational at the same time. It can bode an original creation without taking away the individual opinions of each associate.
And finally, it establishes important work ethics such as open-mindedness and cooperativeness. These positive traits can never be achieved alone. This is an important component that makes up a humble and well-rounded individual.
According to a research, most end-product of a team effort greatly surpasses that of an individual work in terms of value (Sirota, Mischkind, Meltzer). This proved that assembling a team should be encouraged as allowable as possible. It would frequently assure that the best possible version of an output is realized.
Nevertheless, it must also be argued about its negative effects, however few. One columnist professed about the possible ill-effects of teamwork. He acknowledged in his article the fact that, while teamwork chiefly promotes good consequences, disadvantages such as unfair involvement, standardization, or disputes may arise (Joseph). In my opinion, these are simply resolved through proper discussion of concerns and obligations beforehand.
The concept of teamwork turns an actually challenging task into a manageable work. An ideal team member knows the important role of a team player. Working together to a unified cause achieves a series of accomplishments not possible by a one-man operation. Much like how a nation was built by the dedication and perseverance of its people working together in unity.
Work Cited
"Group." Merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Joseph, Chris. "The Disadvantages of Teamwork in the Workplace." The Disadvantages of Teamwork in the Workplace. Demand Media and Hearst Newspapers, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Sirota, David, Louis Mischkind, and Michael Meltzer. "Why Your Employees Are Losing Motivation - HBS Working Knowledge." HBS Working Knowledge. Harvard Management, 10 Apr. 2006. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Teamwork." Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press, 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Types of Teams." Boundless. Boundless Management, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
