Teams in the Workplace

    What's your favorite team?

     It should be there team that you're on.  Your team, at your place of work, should be your favorite team. Teams work separately and together to achieve success in their tasks, which serve in promoting the overall welfare and success of the organization as a whole. Teams and teamwork contribute towards organizations functioning as one unit.

     Teams within an organization are comparable to sponsored sports teams.  Currently, in the NBA, the Houston Rockets are number one
(/www.nba.com/rockets/).  Each one of those players has contributed toward their team dominating the entire basketball association.  At any point they must function seamlessly in order to win each game.  At work, team benefits aren't maximized unless every member makes team contributions. Continually pushing toward success as a member will reflect on the team.  Each one of us make the team complete.

     If you don't have teamwork skills, work on them. "Employers expect employees to be team players (https://www.thebalance.com/list-of-teamwork-skills-2063773)." Help your coworkers. Suggestions are great; utilize them. Don't hesitate to take all points of view into consideration. Communication is always the key. Model yourself for cooperation. If conflicts arise attempt to resolve them via negotiations. Learn what the entire team wants as members. If you make a commitment make sure you keep it. Avoid disruptive actions and words that cling to the memory. Successful teams practice teamwork skills.

     Anytime a group works together to accomplish a goal, you have a team.  A team is small group of people with complementary skills.  It is a group of people that hold themselves mutually accountable for performance results. Teams are also defined by those being involved in teamwork. Teamwork is the process of people actively working together to accomplish those common goals.  Teamwork is important.  Define your group.

     "Lauren McAdams, is a career advisor and hiring manager at ResumeCompanion.com.  Developing teamwork starts as soon as employees walk through the door. The most successful method for creating excellent intra-team relations is made of instilling a sense of teamwork early on in the onboarding process.  We experiment with different team-building measures.  During onboarding, we have new employees shadow an experienced coach.  The coach is tasked with helping their integration into the team. After the initial phase, we assign the new employees to shadow other people so they get to have more than one coach (https://activecollab.com/blog/collaboration/real-world-examples-of-successful-teamwork)."

     An organization is only as strong as it's weakest link.  This can also be defined as synergy.  Most employees at working with a team, or some form of it. It could be two people or one hundred people.  Organizations offer sales teams, global teams, administration teams, engineering teams, leadership teams, and project teams. There is a plethora of teams.  All is well when production flows smoothly. Synergy is the creation of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.  There are a variety of benefits. There are more resources for problem solving. Synergy provides improved creativity and innovation. Teamwork improves the quality of decision-making. There will be greater commitment to tasks.  Higher motivation results through collective actions. There will be better control and more work discipline. Synergy improves individual satisfaction.  Don't be a weak link.

     Teams provide their members with support and social satisfaction. Satisfaction comes through those personal relationships and connections that are part of a team. Social relationships form and give coworkers a sense of security and belonging. There is emotional support. Most of all, individuals are making contacts, sharing ideas, responding to favors, and bypassing any blocks that may be plugging production flow.  Give words of encouragement to your team members.  Comradery is wonderful.

     Sometimes, social relationships have a negative slope.  Teams are victimized, suffering from lack of performance, by social loafing and other problems. Social loafing is the tendency of some people to avoid responsibility by slacking off in groups.  Teams are great but they aren't free of problems. Some personalities are very cohesive and others cause friction.  Slackers can be downsized by making them more noticeable.  Team social loafers can be subjected to peer pressure, and leader evaluation.  If group members are rewarded for their contributions, and tasks are made more interesting, then these teams are less prone to social loafing.

     There are a wide variety of teams within organizations.  Organizations operate as networks of formal and informal groups.  A former team is officially recognized and supported by the organization. An informal group is unofficial and emerges from relationships and share interests among members. There are official names for these formal groups. Some group names are departments, units, teams, divisions, and regions.  Informal teams are just as important. They can have a very positive impact on work performance. Some examples are interest groups, friendship groups, and support groups.  Pick a team.

     "Lee Fisher, is an HR manager at Blinds Direct. Teamwork should be based on solidarity, respect, communication, and mutual understanding. Our company uses ‘Role Switch’. It was launched across our web and marketing department. In this event, each team member switches roles with a colleague.  There is a deeper understanding as a result (https://activecollab.com/blog/collaboration/real-world-examples-of-successful-teamwork)

     Teams and teamwork contribute towards organizational goals.  Teams maximize individual goals.  Some examples are interest groups, friendship groups, and support groups. So, what is your favorite team?