Teamworking
Teams are not the same as other groups, as they need to be planned, built and maintained, and dissolved when their job is done. They need a mix of talents and skills that may not necessarily be drawn from one cohesive unit or section alone. What unites them is a common purpose and their potential contribution to achieving it.
At the outset, you have to decide if you really need a team in some cases an individual working alone may achieve a task more effectively than a group. The benefit of a team is a mix of different capabilities, including personal and technical skills.
You need to think about how you want the team to operate in terms of:
- Coordinating individuals` efforts in tackling complex tasks.
- Making the most of individuals` strengths.
- Raising and maintaining motivation.
- Encouraging team members to spark ideas of each other.
- Bringing about commitment and ownership of the task.
To succeed with this, you will need to establish the ground rules. There will be a need for honest and open communication so that everyone especially those with minority views can say what they think without fear of put-down or ridicule. Include yourself the teamleader as a team member who passes on the leadership of the team when specific skills are needed. This will also require the allocation of responsibilities and working out how to measure progress and report it.
Team-working tips:
- Change is impossible without agreement and commitment.
- Realistic timetables is vital, as unlearning may have to take place first.
- Teambuilding will probably increase individual workloads.
- Development is basically self-regulated, and domination undermines individual and team progress.
- People cannot be forced into attitude changes.
- Stick to the agenda but be open to new and different ideas.
- Admit when you are wrong, and learn from mistakes if you are right all the time, you are probably not developing.
- You can`t necessarily motivate people; you can only create the right conditions for motivation to happen.
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