Leadership in Teams - Assignment Example

In almost every aspect of life, the word "team" has its place. We all know that the planet that we live in is included in the team that revolves around the sun, and that is the solar system. Individually, we are also a part of a certain team perhaps as a member of the family, as a component of the academe or maybe, a member of a workforce. If we are to analyze these things, we might say that team should be composed of more than one member united to achieve a common goal. It is also an established fact that in order for the team to obtain its goal, each and every member should be given specific tasks to be delivered and should establish harmony with regards to their treatment with each other during and even after the task is done. However, should there be any lapses, which is the one to be blamed If there are irregularities, which are those people responsible Or which brain should conceptualize the plan in order to achieve success How can the people inside the team with different tasks and interests be guided with regards to their movement and execution of plans In these cases, it all boils down to one individual-The Leader. We all know that a team is composed of many individuals, but how important is the leader in unifying these individuals and to achieve the needed success of an endeavor or certain project Leader is defined as the one organizes or is in charge of the group or something that leads or guides others (allwords.com 1). In layman's term he is the one who is in charge of the team, the standard bearer per se. How vital is the performance of the leader in order to obtain the desired output Up to what extent does the leader takes over especially if he or she leads the team. These are only some of the questions that are in need to be answered in order for us to know the importance of a leader on a certain team. It is a common connotation that when the word team is used, it has something to do with sports. Perhaps, let us also take a look in this field. In almost all of the team sport, there are leaders in and off the playing court. A coach perhaps can be considered as leader as he is the one who creates and induces his system with regards to the performance of his players in each and every game. The quarterback in American football, point guard in basketball, libero in volleyball and stopper in football. All do have different designations but has the same impact and importance in the team. They lead the team in scoring and in defense. It is also said that they can make or unmake the team, so what's with these leaders that the whole team depends on them It is said that an organization regardless of its nature whether it is a business, political party, alliance et cetera is a form of team. They all have leaders. In most cases, the leaders are the ones whom they look up to whether they are into the peak of the success or into the bitterness of defeat. A team is defined as a group of people working on a common goal, with different task and interdependent with each other. This means that a certain team cannot succeed by an effort of an individual but rather an effort of different individuals with a common goal; they are united with a driving force. However, their efforts will almost be next to inutile, if no one will act to be the head or the leader of that team. Primarily, the main concern of the team leader is to ensure that the team's plan in order to succeed is properly executed. Tam leader must also know the strengths and weaknesses of each and every individual member in order to ensure that the manpower that is delegated to perform specific task can deliver the goods. The leader must also be a good follower like the old saying with regards to the leaders. They should always follow the rules that the team has prescribed for its members. With all these facts laid, it always boils down to one question. How important is leadership to a team Does it have an impact to a team considering a team is comprised of many individuals Sometimes leadership in team particularly in organization is hardly distinguished. Aside from the tasks that the leaders perform, sometimes they are hardly distinguished as to where group do they belong, on the upper side or in the bottom along with the teammates However, a fact still stands- that a team cannot stand without a leader. Leaders serve as guide and sometimes mentor to his/her teammates while doing tasks. He also listens to grievances and needs of his/her subordinates. Sometimes leaders also train their teammates to become leaders in the future should time comes that they are not already capable of doing those tasks as a leaders. In other words, leaders are working for the order of the team. They are the one who are responsible for the smooth delivery of every task to be done by their teammates and the realization of the goal. If we are to interpret these things in a much shallow definition, leaders are like drivers who steers different parts of the vehicle in order for a certain vehicle to run. Same thing with leaders on teams, this is the people who are driving and encouraging each and every members of the team. They do have big burdens of how will the people within the team reacts or how would they influence their subordinates to perform well in order to get the desired outcome of the team's objective. The team leader must also realize that he/she must know the needs and the grievances of the subordinates, as the saying goes that leaders are expected to anticipate and feel the needs of those people under their jurisdiction to ensure that everyone can feel the pressure and burden of every team member. Leading the team is not that easy especially during formative stage but this stage is the most important part wherein the character of the team leader can be expressed at the most. This includes getting to know each other stage with the leaders and the team members as well as exchanging of ideas and discussions. This argument is also the point pointed out by Brian Tracy as he emphasized that "The forming stage is very important, perhaps even critical, to the success of the team. Your ability to select the proper team members in order to accomplish a particular task -- personal or business -- is the mark of the superior leader." In addition he further stressed that "In the forming stage, the team members come together and begin to get a feeling for each other. There will be a good deal of discussion, argument, disagreement, personal expression of likes and dislikes, and the forming of friendly alliances between team members." (2) In almost all cases, it is the call of team leader on how to make his team mates gel with each other to form chemistry. It is also believed that a leader is ahead with his subordinates in terms of strengthening his personality in order to deliver the needed task of the team, perhaps a little bit ahead with his subordinates. He must think ahead of his subordinates, anticipates the things that are to come, and analyze future steps to be taken by his team. In terms of failure, leaders are also expected to mend the deficiencies of the performance of a certain team member or even the team itself. However one cannot deny the fact that it is also an established fact that the leader is also one who is expected to know and work out for his deficiencies before minding and mending the deficiencies of the subordinates. In the text "WHY TEAMS DON'T WORK" it is stated that "It is much easier to fix your own leadership deficiencies than it is to fix someone else's. To fix your own, you must simply acknowledge what you will never be good at, and get someone else to take over those leadership dimensions -- to share leadership with you." (Robbins and Finley 3) During the performance of the task, the leaders are usually the source of strength and inspiration among the team members whether they are pressured by the strict image of the leader or other motivating factors that are injected to them by the leaders. The leaders are the one's who encourage the team to pursue the mission when things are going tough. However, he must also acknowledge when to retreat or to give up for the betterment of the team. During hard and trying times, leaders are expected to move and perform their task in a manner that is in order. In the website A1 articles.com in the article seven qualities of a good leader written by Barbara White, in the fourth quality it is stated that " leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor." (4)- this means that the leader must show that he is aggressive during those times when everything is going the way the team anticipates. Leaders must show that they are strong enough to face this kind of situation in order for the team not to be demoralized and to keep on fighting. In this kind of situation, we are now aware that leaders are the source of inspiration of the team. During the times when the members are loosing their passion and they feel like giving up, leaders are also expected to motivate the team in order for them to pursue their goals and to be re-oriented with their task in order to re-claim their passion with regards to their goals. Leaders sometimes has to discipline their subordinates with regards to their wrongdoings either to correct the offending party or to serve as lesson to others and in most cases, both of these are served. Discipline more often connotes a negative impact during its duration and leaders are expected to serve this. However, members do sometimes think that they are being punished by the leaders and they took this punishment as personal rather than a professional move. This move are sometimes ignored by team leaders as some believes that this will damage their relationship and ties with their subordinates and will cause a lot of trouble. However, this should not be the case as discipline also plays an important role in team leadership. This will also be the pendulum of members on how will they took things under the leader's leadership within the team. If a leader is experiencing difficulty in terms of disciplining his team members, it is more likely that the team members would took his orders lightly in which would also resort into a mediocre outcome of the teams goal. The Holy Bible also warns to spare the rod and spoil the child- and this principle also applies to the leader and member relationship on the basis of discipline. Discipline is a hard process but this would also lead to a learning process between the leaders and the members. Leadership plays a big role in executing discipline as this would determine the willingness of the leader to correct his subordinates and this would also mean that leaders are open to correction in which an important part for the team's progress. This would also make the team matured enough in venturing challenges while knowing their strengths and weaknesses among each other. In this case, without leadership, it is impossible for the team to experience discipline. All in all leadership plays an important role in a certain team. A team without a leader is like a ship without a captain or a map without a direction. Leadership in a team is very important that a team cannot stand without it. How can team members be able to move forward without a guide How can they be motivated without a motivator Leaders regardless of their distinction are expected to carry the team and not the other way around. They should cater the needs of both the team members and the desired outcome of the team. They are the ones whom the team members look up to. Leadership in teams is very vital as it determines the outcome and the performance of the team while doing the task. This would also mean that it is so vital that the team's ups and downs depend on it. Leadership on teams gives direction and guidance to the members inside it. As we all know that teams are not driven by a single person but leadership can influence every team member. This means that Leadership should not be taken for granted. It can lead to team's success or the defeat of it. Regardless of objective and desired outcome of the, leadership on teams should always be present in achieving the desired outcome of the team. This would also help the progress and growth of the team. Leadership also plays an important role on how to bind different individuals with different tasks and personality who makes up the team to achieve the vision and goal of the team. Reference: 1.)http://www.allwords.com/query.phpSearchType=3&Keyword=leader&goquery=Find+it!&Language=ENG 2) http://www.progressivedistributor.com/progressive/Online%20exclusives/RoleOfALeader.htm 3) http://www.quality.org/TQM-MSI/leadership.mfinley.txt 4) http://www.a1articles.com/article_7681_15.html Read More