Team Dynmics Essay

Qualities to Develop a Better Team

Have you ever been asked to build a team? Or better yet, have you ever been asked to lead a team to be successful? If we look at successful teams, we can all learn that there is more to it than just chemistry and strong leadership. There are many important qualities a team requires to perform efficiently thus making it successful.

The word team, as referred by Webster's Dictionary(2006) as to two or more people trained or organized to work together, is often misinterpreted. A group of people can work together, but the question is, can a group of people function together? "True teamwork requires time, practice, planning, coordinationÐ'... and plenty of coffee" (Wee, J., & Morse, O. 2007, Juggling People Ð'- Secrets for Successful Teams, p38). For instance, take any sports team or a armed forces platoon and observe their behavior as a team. Both the sports team and the armed forces team undergo a rigorous training that though it creates strength and endurance it also develops the unity and cooperation teams need. The level of this collaboration determines the quality of the group. The outcome of a group collaborating together is this energy that allows the group to work, think and act as one. Marshall (2007) refers to this ability to harness the energy and intelligence as "collaborative intelligence" or CQ. If a group does not learn to cooperate, the product of their effort could be a negative result.

However to achieve a positive level of collaboration first there has to be an optimum level of communication. "Teamwork without communication is like a juggler without balls" (Wee, J., Owen, M. 2007, Juggling People Ð'- Secrets for Successful Teams, p38). A team cannot really be considered a team if there is no communication, otherwise It would be a group of people doing work individually. Effective communication is an essential tool to create successful results. For example: Military intelligence directs a platoon through a combat situation by providing information regarding the status and resources of a location. Now, it is up to that team to properly communicate with each other to understand and effectively execute their job. This communication is done in many different ways to ensure success during the process. Whether its by signs, audio or any communication device, a strong and effective communication level needs to be maintained.

Once an effective communication is developed, the team's goals must be set. Goals are catalysts that trigger effective results to the previous mentioned qualities. Setting goals and involving each team member in it, creates a positive drive to the teams collaboration, and communication thus providing a sense of direction. "Goals provide a positive emotional energy used to drive challenging results, providing meaning and purpose to the team"(Graham, V. W., 2007, Shared Leadership, p8)

Now to achieve positive results on the teams objectives there has to be a proper delegation of each members tasks. However everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It is each member's responsibility to communicate these strengths and weaknesses. "Knowing this information about every team member early in the process will help you avoid delegating tasks blindly and will ensure that each person is comfortable with his or her role" (Wee, J., Owen, M. 2007, Juggling People Ð'- Secrets for Successful Teams, p38). Also the knowledge of each team member strengths and weaknesses provides the values to their contributions.