Friday, January 13, 2012

The complexities of working in a team.


Since growing up as kids we were exposed to working in teams. For those who grew up in big families they were sometimes forced to work or play with their siblings, even if they did not get along!

At school for those who enjoy sports, they join different sports teams, Basketball, Football, Softball, Cricket, Volleyball, just to mention  a few.

Being part of a team needs resilience, confidence and also certain calmness. You have to be flexible to change according to the situation. Different tactics may be used depending on the team members, and also on the strength and ability of your opponents. It is not an easy task when you have a difficult team member who is selfish, or who does not take orders well or who lacks the respect to follow what s/he is told by the coach or team leader.

The same applies in the workplace. You may be placed in a department with the best team and vice versa is also true!

Working in a team at the office has its own challenges. Some team members may not be as motivated as others and thus may not put their all in a group task.Some other team members may just be slow! You are given an assignment and they delay the rest due to their turtle speed.Some team members can lack the seriousness needed and may end up messing the whole project due to errors which could have been avoided.

How does one work in a team? How do you position yourself in a team such that you can function at your best, you can win the respect and trust of your peers while maintaining a healthy relationship with your superiors? 

Communication and understanding the strengths and weaknesses can help in executing your duties in the team. Ensuring that the right tasks are assigned to the right individual and any weaknesses identified are dealt with immediately. This brings about efficiency as a team and also boosts the morale of every team member.

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