12 Working in Teams (2.5.4/2.5.5)

The Importance of Teamwork in the Workplace

If you’ve ever looked at a job posting, you’ve probably noticed that teamwork is almost always listed as a required skill. This is’nt just because employers are copying one another. It’s because the success of every organization depends on people who can work well together to get the job done. A strong, well-organized team is essential for productivity and success in the workplace.

Effective teamwork means working together toward a shared goal, guided by a clear purpose. When a team works well, it becomes a powerful force. As author Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” (Sommers & Dineen, 1984, p. 158).

How Teams Improve Productivity

When people work as a team, they accomplish more than individuals working alone. Each team member brings different skills, experiences, and knowledge. Together, they form a synergistic group—this means their combined efforts produce better results than the sum of their individual work.

Team collaboration can increase motivation and creativity. A diverse team with different viewpoints can solve problems more effectively and overcome creative blocks. While teamwork can be enjoyable, it also requires effort. Team members must stay on schedule and complete their responsibilities. If one person falls behind, the whole team may be affected, just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Common Challenges in Teamwork

Teamwork also comes with challenges. Team members may be balancing other assignments or personal responsibilities. Problems can occur when team members are pressured to follow a plan, use a tool they disagree with, or didn’t help create.

Another challenge is groupthink, which happens when people agree with the group’s decisions even if they disagree. Groupthink can prevent innovation and lead to poor decisions. Personalities, competition, and conflict can also cause problems. For this reason, it’s important to select and manage team members carefully.

Tips for Building Successful Teams

Experts John Thill and Courtland Bovee (2002) offer the following strategies for building strong teams:

• Choose team members with the right skills
• Appoint a responsible team leader
• Encourage teamwork and cooperation
• Set clear goals
• Ask for commitment from all members
• Clearly define each person’s responsibilities
• Promote action and follow-through
• Use technology wisely
• Make sure everyone can use the same tools
• Give and receive feedback promptly

Group Dynamics and Communication

Group dynamics refers to how team members interact and how those interactions affect the team’s progress. A strong team identity can motivate members and keep the group focused. However, too much control can limit creativity, while too little control can result in confusion and poor performance. Good teamwork requires finding the right balance between encouraging new ideas and staying organized.

Strong business communicators build effective teams by selecting members based on their skills and communication styles. A good team includes introverts (who may prefer to work alone) and extroverts (who enjoy group discussions). Leaders should support quieter team members so they feel comfortable speaking up. They should also encourage more vocal members to listen and include others. Both types of communicators bring value to the team. Choosing a diverse group with a variety of perspectives helps the team succeed.

Attribution

This section was adapted from Chapter 17.1 “Introduction” in Fundamentals of Business Communication Revised (2022) and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Reference

References are at the end of this chapter.