Arguably, working with a team and a group has numerous experiences as well as the expectation. One gets a chance to communicate, share ideas, as well as taking roles. Additionally, the experiences achieved develop individuals mentally, emotionally, socially, and psychologically. Certainly, communication was the key factor in the activities of the team and groups that I participated. Communication within a group and a team enable people to work together and efficiently towards the achievement of the intended goals. The team I participate with was a football team, while the small group a family. In both, I was part of them and experienced the team and groups at a personal level.
Who were the participants of the team and the group?
Undoubtedly, participants of the sports team were individuals who were linked to a common purpose. The participants were sports men and women from the community who were preparing to participate in intercommunity competitions. Hence, its participants football team, comprising of men (Levi, 2010). The sports team carried out tasks that were complex. The aim of each team member was to win. Perhaps, all members of the sports team knew of the interconnection. The participants of the family were mother, father, and children. In which each person had his or her own defined roles within the group. There was a leader who was the father, but the rewards depended on the hard work and individual performance (Sherblom & Harris, 2010).
How was each formed? Is this typical for team and group formations? Explain.
Team formation is an important and complex procedure that should be observed for the benefit of both the manager and other members. The team I experienced was a football team; hence, the manager called out all those individuals with talents to attend a team formation process. In which, most of the players were recruited. Each team member was to understand the purpose, reason9ng and the goal being the formation of the team. Therefore, the football team was build not born (Sherblom & Harris, 2010). All the members and the team leader were aware of the formation of the team. The members came together to express their concerns, anxieties, and expectations of what was about to take place. During the formation the team set out objectives, discusses limits, roles, and strength of each person.
The small group (family) was formed through physical interaction of its participants. The extend in which the members of the family interacted and shared activities increased the probability of group formation. The formation of a family group came together and began to develop relationship, as well as defining limits of acceptable behavior. The family group was formed driven by the goal of coming together (Levi, 2010).
Actually, some of the procedures followed in forming the football team were somehow typical; this is because it entailed more of professionalism and talent. On the other hand, forming a family was more of interactive and casual developed. The typical stages of forming a team and a group include, formation, storming, performing, and adjourning. In my opinion, some typicality was involved in formation of the family and football team.
What differences were there between the team and the group dynamics? Why?
In fact, there were many differences in between group and team dynamics. This is because differences existed in its formation, interaction mechanism, structure, training, and process. The formation of a family was very easy as compared to the formation and managing of the team. Additionally, members of the family interacted more in a more cohesive and interpersonal level (Levi, 2010). Family members seemed to understand each other well. In terms of structure, the family structure looked simple, but the football team looked professional, in that its members were trained well to undertake their roles. The group football team was guided by rules and regulations, yet in the family, the limits of behaviors developed through interaction.
How might these experiences be different for a virtual team or group? What unique characteristics are there for a virtual team or group?
The experiences would automatically have changed if I were in a virtual group or team. The geographical differences would make it difficult for the football team to train and work together leading to failure to achieving goals. Within the family, the entire [process of bonding and interacting at a personal level would be very minimal. Information can be passed through technology, but the impacts on individual members would be different. The entire experience would have changed from formation to adjournment of the team or the group.
The unique characteristics of a virtual team and group it allows its members to be flexible as well as enjoying global procurement of talents. Despite the flexibility, there is greater generation of mistrust and isolation. In most cases, members of a virtual team and group might never meet; hence, there is a feeling of mistrust among members. Other unique characteristics of a virtual team and group include decision-making, conflict management, as well as expression of opinions. This uniqueness makes it difficult for virtual groups and teams to generate ideas and assimilate skills (Sherblom & Harris, 2010).
In each team and group, how did members take on roles?
The members of the family took different roles. My father was ready preparing the reception tents and ensuring that the entire compound was in order. Mother on the other hand was cooking, with the help of my elder sister. My part was decorating the house and other reception venues. My younger sister was inviting quests and directing them to their respective seats. The ultimate goal of the group was to ensure that everyone enjoyed the meal, and enjoy themselves (Levi, 2010).
The roles in football team ell well defined. The team manager and the coach lead the entire group during the training sessions. Each player took his roles depending on his position in the field. Actually, the strength of the entire team dependant on the role of each player in the team. The players interrelated in building the team spirit, esteem, capabilities, ideal, and confidence. The defenders, strikers, and midfielders worked in respective positions. The coach was the overall leader (Sherblom & Harris, 2010).
What norms were developed in the team and group? How did these develop? Explain.
The family and the football team had a set of acceptable behaviors. In most situations the norms applied to all members while others was applicable to specific group or team members. The norms developed included challenging the leaders, volunteering, avoiding conflict, open and free expression of feelings, as well as taboo subjects.
The norms developed because of conflicts that came up between the members of the family, and the members of the football team. Hence, the norm of avoiding conflicts developed because individuals in the team were not in good terms. Within the family, there were sectors that seemed to be behind schedule, hence others volunteered to help the other family member (Sherblom & Harris, 2010). There are moments in which the leader made negative decision that would affect the team performance. In such a situation, members of the team could challenge him on the issue and come to a consensus. Other taboos included use of bad language, insulting and disrespectfulness (Levi, 2010). For example, my father was in some situations forcing things to work, and we had to exchange words, which was a bad behavior.
Were there status differences within the team and the group? Why or why not? What effect did this have on the group performance?
There was minimal status difference in the family, this is because most members came from the same family, shared same resources, and enjoyed same privileges. The only status was that of parents and children in terms of age. The absence of status differences enabled the family to work cohesively, and achieve their goals.
Undoubtedly, there were status differences in the team. This difference was in terms variation in playing. In that, others played well while other was not that smart. Additionally, members of the group came from different financial background, with different social and financial status. The variation and presence of status differences led to conflicts in the team. The leader had very rough time building the uniformity of the team. Conversably, the status differences hindered the achievement of football team goals and objective (Levi, 2010).
Identify at least three interpersonal needs as noted by Maslow and Schultz that were met through the team or group experiences. Explain why the team or group experiences met these needs.
Maslow theory asserts that team belongings’ depends on the strength individual player in performing his roles. Another interpersonal need was esteem; this was developed through appreciation of hard work, based on how one performed his role in the team. Additionally, safety of the players was important. Members of the team felt safe because his fellow teammate looked for him in all perspective (Sherblom & Harris, 2010). Generally, the team felt the togetherness, and everyone remained united. In the family the interpersonal needs such as belongings, safety and esteem was developed through togetherness, interaction, and working together.
According to Schultz, interpersonal needs included affection, control, and inclusion. In both the family, and football team individuals felt their importance by being cared for. Members took control of their activities in the team and groups. Individuals performed their roles as expected. In order to work together a felling of affection was needed (Levi, 2010). All members felt loved and part of the team. The family and football team met this needs by working together, adhering to rules, respecting each other, and performing the expected roles.
What is your overall impression of working in teams and small groups?
Conclusively, working with the group and team helped in developing good communication among participants. The power of togetherness is the best option towards the achievement of roles. Furthermore, the impression I received is that respect and adherence to norms lead to success. Generally, it builds an individual emotionally, psychologically, socially and builds an individual in developing interactive character.
References
Levi, D. (2010). Group Dynamics for Teams. London: Wiley.
Sherblom, C & Harris, T. (2010). Small Group and Team Communication. New York.
Wadsworth. (Sherblom & Harris, 2010)
