Discuss your view of and experience with team projects. Do you see team projects in a positive light, or not? Why?
I always prefer working in a team, especially when tackling a project that requires different perspectives and opinions for its solution. While in a group I get the chance to engage with people with unique personalities, views, ideas, and synergy, and those who can help me develop creative and productive solutions to a project problem. I also get to bring out my unique set of skills and combining them with those of the other members coming up with the most practical solutions.
Describe and discuss at least three challenges in working with teams. Provide your thoughts on how these issues can be proactively addressed when starting a team project.
Conflict over opinions, strategies, and positions.
Groups are social settings comprising of people with opposing ideas, and opinions, and when members fail to accommodate and understand each other’s different stands, they may end up conflicting (Witt, 2011).
The issue can be addressed by the team leader advising the members on the on the importance of respecting and accommodating each other’s opinions even though they may not agree with it. The members with an opposing viewpoint should listen to others and understand their argument, understanding why they have opposing views.
Mistrust and miscommunication
Groups, being social setups with more than one person participating in at times experience instances of miscommunication and mistrust (Witt, 2011). For example, one may find some of the members in the group domination conversations making others fell irrelevant and unappreciated.
I think the issue can be addressed by the leader by stopping the process when miscommunication occurs and asking the domineering member give others the chance to feel useful in a group, by letting them voice their opinions.
Personality clashes
People in a group often have different personalities and styles of living and may find it hard accommodating each other, resulting in personal conflicts among them (Witt, 2011). The situation affects the functioning of a group as the difference creates bad blood among team members affecting productivity (Delarue, et al., (2008).
The issue can address by the group leader providing different assessment tools to the group members helping them understand each other better, and in turn develop a standard frame of reference for dealing with their differences.
Describe and discuss at least three benefits of working with teams. Provide your thoughts on how these positive aspects can be leverages to make the team more productive and successful.
Fosters learning and creativity
In groups people get to share knowledge and brainstorm on ideas, coming up group environment that is creative, productive and with unique perspectives and solutions (Delarue, et al., 2008).
The aspect can be leveraged by always encouraging collaborations in a group as it not only creates and a learning enthusiasm in the members but also helps members in a group member develop their individual and team knowledge.
Allow the building of complementary strengths among members
When people work together, they get to grow their talents more and also work on their weaknesses, developing themselves, changing the environment around them (Mattson, 2015).
The aspect can be leveraged the group leader always encouraging members with different competing skills to work together to bring the best combination to the table, creating a much stronger team.
Build trust and teamwork among members
Group working helps in developing a healthy relationship and bond between people despite the occasional conflicts that may be experienced (Mattson, 2015). When people often work together well, they get to enjoy each other company, becoming not only teammates but also friends.
The aspect can be leveraged by members always being there or each other, establishing a foundation of a relationship between them, avoiding minor conflicts.
As team projects will be a part of many of your future courses, discuss how you plan to ensure your success as a team member and how you plan to contribute to your future team's success.
I understand that the complexities and the challenges faced by a group can at times change. Therefore in future, I plan to grow my commitment and help other team members develop theirs to make sure that we all work with the same objective and motivation in mind. I understand that the best groups regarding effectiveness are those that are committed to their success and each other. As a member, I plan to commit and engage and encourage others at all times through things like conversations, which I believe cn help the team be more efficient.
References
Delarue, A., Van Hootegem, G., Procter, S., " Burridge, M. (2008). Teamworking and organizational performance: A review of survey-based research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 10(2), 127-148. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2007.00227.x
Mattson, D. (2015, February 19). 6 Benefits of Teamwork in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.sandler.com/blog/6-benefits-of-teamwork-in-the-workplace
Witt, D. (2011, April 18). The Challenge of Working in Teams'Dealing with Conflict. Retrieved from https://leaderchat.org/2011/04/18/the-challenge-of-working-in-teams%E2%80%94dealing-with-conflict/
