Managing Groups and Teams
To have a team, you must have a clear and elevating goal that supersedes all individual goals. Usually, this goal does not change or get adjusted; instead, it guides all aspects of the team's performance. This does not mean there is no place for groups within a company; many groups exist to serve other needs within the organization. You might, for example, have a committee for enhancing diversity, or a group of executives that are searching for a new CEO. In both of these examples, there is a goal (to increase diversity or find a CEO), but the way this goal is attained can change throughout the process. Perhaps your group decided halfway through the process to only consider internal hires for a promotion instead of conducting an external search.
Conclusion
Research
shows that group formation is a beneficial but highly dynamic process.
The life cycle of teams can often closely resemble various stages in
individual development. In order to maintain group effectiveness,
individuals should be aware of key stages as well as methods to avoid
becoming stuck along the way. Good leadership skills combined with
knowledge of group development will help any group perform at its peak
level. Teams, though similar, are different from groups in both scope
and composition. Groups are often small collections of individuals with
various skill sets that combine to address a specific issue, whereas
teams can be much larger and often consist of people with overlapping
abilities working toward a common goal.
Many
issues that can plague groups can also hinder the efficacy of a team.
Problems such as social loafing or groupthink can be avoided by paying
careful attention to team member differences and providing clear
definitions for roles, expectancy, measurement, and rewards. Because
many tasks in today's world have become so complex, groups and teams
have become an essential component of an organization's success. The
success of the team/group rests within the successful management of its
members and making sure all aspects of work are fair for each member.