Promoting Team Effectiveness - Essay Example

Introduction Human beings have been working in teams since time immemorial. History reveals that people have always worked together for various reasons. These purposes range from achieving, conquering and also explorative. The nineteenth century had many organizations having untapped team work but only enhanced individual efforts. Many organizations normally come up with teams that have to accomplish various tasks. Teams are able to tap the input of each member therein and therefore come up with a lasting solution to many issues within the organization. Each and every team always has to be focused to achieving the ultimate goal. A team leader has to work towards motivating all the team members towards the same. This paper is a plan to develop a team in order to achieve the desired outcomes. Bass, (p, 35. 2000) As a team leader, the following aspects will be carried out in order to see to it that the team succeeds. Competency elements within the team are very essential as they also play a role in enhancing success. Team members have to be pragmatic, honest and hardworking among other elements. Team leadership also has to have integral competency elements in order to enhance success. Identification of objectives The first step as a team leader is to make clear the purpose of forming the team. This is whereby the objectives of the team are clearly set out. Objectives normally give the entire team focus and helps in avoiding handling of issues that are not within their aims. In this stage, one has to clearly identify the specific goals that the team has to accomplish. The objectives or goals have to be identified and put down in written form. This acts as a reminder to the team on the various issues that have to be accomplished. This can be summarized as the team’s purpose. After objectives are identified, roles and responsibilities have to be issued out to the team members. This is concerning who is responsible for accomplishing what. At this juncture it is also very important to make clear what each individual’s job description would be. All these issues have to be carried out with consent of team members. Individual input At this point, it is very important to encourage each and every team member to give in their ideas. This is concerning planning for the team. This will be carried out through giving the team members the opportunity to give in their input without fear. This is also concerning all the operational aspects of the entire team. It is normally very important for every team member to know that their views are very important. DePree, (p, 45.1989) Time frame It is never enough for objectives and strategies to be put in place without having a time frame put in place. This includes the period of time that various tasks have to be accomplished. After issuing out tasks and responsibilities, it is quite important that team members understand the time that they have to accomplish them. As a team leader, deadlines have to be put in place in order to avoid delays. Through this initiative, the team would be able to achieve the desired outcomes. Team cohesion As a team leader, it is quite important to enhance team cohesion. This is due to the fact that cohesion enhances success. Cohesion is enhanced through educating team members on the need of unity in achieving success. This also includes the need to compliment each other towards goal achievement. Individual responsibility After giving each team member their responsibilities, as a team leader, one has to ensure that they understand everything. Each team member has to be responsible for their own work. They are also answerable to the team leader in case of any issue arising concerning their roles and responsibilities. Each team member has to know what their roles and responsibilities are. As a team leader, one has to ensure that every individual person gets the necessary support in relation to their personal roles. When giving out various responsibilities to the team members, it is very important as a team member to know who is skilled in what. This is because people normally have different skills and abilities. Maundy, (p. 60. 2001) This has to be put in mind such that the tasks are assigned to people who have the ability to handle them. What is the commitment of the team members? It is also one thing to have the skills, ability and to have commitment towards accomplishing the tasks. When such issues are well handled by the team leader, then overall success is assured. Co-working In as much as individual responsibilities are given to the team members, they have to clearly understand that they need each other. This is whereby team members are encouraged to help each other in their various responsibilities. This is because no one can totally succeed as an individual. Sparrow, (p. 83.1994) The team members also have to be educated on the dangers of denigrating each others’ efforts. This also includes the dangers of working just as an individual without recognizing the in put of other team members. As a team leader, emphasis has to be put on focusing on the overall goals, objectives and purposes for the entire team. Feedback This is very important in any team set up. As a team leader, one has to ensure that proper feedback and communication mechanisms are in place. This would enhance proper communication from the team members to leader, leader to team members and among team members. For any team to be effective there has to be proper communication networks among the stakeholders. As a team leader, communication networks like internet, telephones among others would enhance success. This is due to the fact that any responsibilities that have to be accomplished always need clarification etc. One aspect that has to be enhanced is the overall accessibility of the leader. Motivation This is one of the ventures that have to undertaken in order to enhance success within the team. Analysis shows that whenever people have to carry out tasks, they sometimes go through discouraging moments. As a team leader, ensuring that the team members are motivated is very essential. There are various ways through which team members can be motivated. Thomson, (p. 55. 2003) One of them is simply using praise appropriately. This is concerning the team members that perform exceptionally in various tasks. As a team leader it is very important to note that what motivates one team member may actually not motivate the other. This means that working towards understanding all the team members is very essential. This is in terms of the various aspects that motivate them at their individual level. Once team members are discouraged, they may never have the zeal to work. That is why being a team leader, looking out for signs of discouragement and laxity is essential. A motivated team will always do more than what was even expected of them. Team leadership involves avoiding overstretching team members even when they are tired. It also involves being understanding and a good example to the entire team. Challenges Challenges are very common in many teams. A team leader, one has to be in a position to identify the problems or challenges that are affecting the group. The team leader has to be on the look out for any unresolved issues within the entire team. These have to be communicated to the rest of the members and solutions sought. Follow up is also very important when it comes to problem solving of any issues that may crop up within the team. Team leadership is not just about solving all the problems that arise in the group. One has to involve the team members in trying to get a lasting solution. In case the issue is more than the leader can handle, then getting help from other professionals can help. This will increase the chances of the team succeeding in all its endeavours. Maundy, (p. 60. 2001) First of all, educating all the team members that challenges are inevitable is very important. This will make all the team members to be always prepared for anything. Challenges may be diverse depending on the nature of the team. Financial and even social challenges may occur. Educating team members on these issues would enable them not to panic in case such challenges do occur. In most cases many teams fail due to the overall attitude when challenges do occur. As a team leader, it is quite essential to have talks with team members so that they maintain a very positive attitude. There are also challenges that are common in any team. This is in relation to conflicts among team members. As a team manager, it is a good idea to encourage team members speak out any conflicts among them. This is due to the fact that conflicts end up breaking the entire team. This is especially when they are left unattended to for quite a long time. DePree, (p, 45.1989) Role model For any team to succeed, the team leader has to serve as role model to the other group members. This is in relation to different issues within the team. Team leadership involves being in meetings on time helps to serve as an example to the other members. Research shows that for any team leader to enhance success within the entire team, he or she has to be a servant. In this case, the leader should not expect to be served, but to serve. Through this, the other team members will be able to follow suit hence enhancing success. Analysis shows the team leader’s contribution is very important. This highly enhances the overall organisation’s image among the other team members. This also affects the organisation’s image to other external stakeholders. In this case one finds the customers or clients for that matter easily linking and even co-working with the management. Through this, the team is able to achieve its desired outcomes easily without much strain. Reviews This strategy can also be incorporated in order to enhance effectiveness in the team. This is whereby weakly and monthly reviews are carried out. All these meetings have to involve all the team members. In the meetings, each group member gives a feedback on tasks that have been accomplished. They also highlight the challenges that they are facing in accomplishing of the tasks. The team members then get the opportunity to give in possible solutions to the challenges that are being faced. The monthly reviews should also be carried out in the same way. This strategy will see to it that the team achieves its objectives. Sparrow, (p. 83.1994) Conclusion Teams have been very common throughout the human history. These are normally formed in social, religious and even business set ups. During the 90s many organizations did not highly emphasize on team work but rather on individual performance. As a team manager, I would put in place various mechanisms to see to it that the team achieves its desired outcomes. This includes setting out of the team’s objectives in order to enhance focus. Carrying out of weakly and monthly reviews helps in analysing accomplishments and any challenges that team members may be facing. Communication is very important and helps in making a team succeed. Proper communication networks among team members and leader and within team members always leads to success. In times when the team members are highly demoralized, they have to be motivated. As a team leader, serving as an example makes the team members follow suit in pragmatism. All these need both the members and the leader to have competency elements in order to succeed. Read More