1. In what ways do teams differ from groups?
A group is a random number of people with something in common i.e. they like sports or cinema…
A team is a group of people that work together towards the same goal i.e. the soccer team Barcelona
What factors contribute to a team?
Cooperation amongst the team members towards achieving the same goal; good communication amongst them, respect for one another, for their strengths and weaknesses; contribute positively to make the team stronger; commitment; dedication; being able to adequately and effectively manage potential conflict.
When have you worked in a team?
Potential answers:
School: when I was a member of my gymnastics/table-tennis school team and represented my school in competitions.
Work: My manager created a team of marketing experts, in which I was included to find to develop a marketing & communications pitch for a key player in the clothing industry
What was your experience like?
Positive: Our team was able to achieve their goals.
Negative: Our team underperformed and was not successful, however I learn from it. Failure is but learning instrument in the road to success.
2. What are some different types of teams?
Management teams – Formed by managers get together in a team to assess the issues that affect the company.
Multi-Functional teams – Formed by individuals from different areas of expertise
Self-Directed teams – These are mostly prevailing in the music industry. An example is a boy band.
Working teams – Formed by company departments according to their functions i.e. finance team, marketing team…
Special Purpose teams – Formed by individuals that get together to complete a specific project.
What are the goals of each type of team?
Management teams – To assess the issues that affect the company.
Multi-Functional teams – To assess and resolve a multi-disciplinary issue.
Self-Directed teams – To achieve their mutual objectives which as a band is i.e. to top the music charts.
Working teams – To perform tasks which are normally ongoing within the organization
Special Purpose teams – To provide a solution to a specific issue.
What differences are there in how team members work together in these different teams?
Management teams – They have a similar level of knowledge and high level of responsibility therefore the scope to making mistakes is very small. They see the big picture but might not see what is happening under them.
Multi-Functional teams – As the members are from different areas of expertise and might not know each other it takes time to build up synergy amongst them for the team to work. These teams offer different points of view towards the same issue which is extremely valuable when looking for the best solution for a problem.
Self-Directed teams – If there is no leader if might be challenging due to conflict. If there is a leader and there is good communication amongst them then the team works well.
Working teams – These teams are task orientated and highly efficient due to their role within the company but the lack of communication between team leaders from different departments and the interest clash is often counter-productive and can be harmful for the teams.
Special Purpose teams - These are normally temporary which means that each member has to take time from their regular tasks in order to work as a member of the special purpose team. This means that the members might not give their all towards this project as they might not see it as essential as their regular responsibilities. Synergy also takes quite a bit of time to build up.
3. What are some examples of effective communication and listening skills for teams?
Effective communication – body language, active listening, open-mindedness, observing, speaking when it’s time to speak, empathizing with others.
Listening – build rapport and develop trust amongst the team members; show understanding to others through the use of non-verbal cues and communication i.e. making eye contact, nodding
What makes these skills effective?
The understanding that they produce which is paramount to successfully working as a team and working in a group.
What are some of your strengths and weaknesses when communicating in a team?
Strengths – Being able to understand others, effectively making your points across, to develop your interpersonal relationship skills.
Weaknesses – Some team members might not listen or understand. The bigger the team sometimes the more challenging it is to keep everyone’s attention and focus.
How can you work on the areas that need improvement?
Understand that everyone is different and everyone has a different level of understanding about an issue or a topic or an objective and be as patient as you can. Help those that are lacking to improve their skills and build up the team’s strength as a whole. Be supportive and encouraging. Above all be mindful of everyone’s personalities.
Explanation: The answers and explanations are above
