Teams exist to deliver results when either the objective is to reduce risk or to accelerate some sort of delivery. Teams are generally able to deliver much more than an individual.
‘Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people’. – Stephen Covey
Good teamwork is essential in all organisations and signifies that there is unity and people are working towards the shared purpose and common goals of the organization.
Teams are usually composed of people of varied skills in complementary roles who need to cooperate with each other in pursuit of a common goal.
Organisations perform better when people work as an effective team. This is because good teamwork creates synergies between the team members. The cumulative effective of a team is greater than the sum of individual efforts. Working cohesively, the team can apply their individual perspectives, knowledge, experience, and skills to solve complex problems that an individual might struggle with alone.
Good teamwork is of benefit to the individual also, enabling collaborative support and mutual learning – this generates a sense of belonging and commitment. Benefits vary depending on the purpose and size of the team but may include some of the following.
Some simple benefits from teams and team diversity
- Variety in a team can apply a mix of skills that go beyond the scope of any one individual to solve complex problems that take more than one mind
- Teams can generate new ideas for the team because the backgrounds and personalities of the individual team members are varied
Important aspects of teams that need to be considered for team success
- The team must understand and relate to having a common purpose or goal
- There must be high levels of trust between the individual team members and of course their leader
- Good communication both among team members and to the team is critical in order to assure alignment.
- Teams should not be formed arbitrarily and the common goal should suggest a positive and assertive position with positive and directed outcomes.
- Successful teams have clear direction and are expected to have a strong results focus
Thinking about your own experience as a team member, what benefits has teamwork brought for you and the team?
