We believe in the wisdom and power of work teams.
We may each have experienced the joy of being a member of a strong team. Some effective teams develop new products or new ways of understanding. Teams have potential beyond a group of individual people.
We know that it is a weakness not to be a team player. We all know the person who does not want to be a member of any team unless they are the captain. We have all seen teams torn apart by conflicts or personal issues.
Teams are a fascinating combination of cooperation and competition.
On the best teams, there is a healthy respect among the members for each other’s skills. Each member has a role to play, and the team benefits when there is little confusion about who does what.
At the same time, team performance is often raised when strong members are striving to be recognized. Teams may meet goals faster when more than one member desires to be the most valuable player. Teams on which certain members monopolize recognition tend not to perform as well.
Teams have lives of their own. They tend to begin, grow, perform, and decline. Teams that remain together for long periods of time can become familiar and complacent. When members leave to participate in a different team, performance often improves.
The members of a team working together well can be inspiring. Few things are more invigorating than people who are bringing out the best in each other as a team. Few things can be more demoralizing than a group of individuals, acting on their own, pretending they are a team.
What kind of team player are you?
When has been the team experience from which you have learned the most?
[Image by woodleywonderworks]
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