Teams and Groups...

Building Effective Teams
The power of teamwork is highly
praised, and many case studies and stories about the impact of successful teams exist. A common misconception is that the key to the ‘team power’ lies only with advanced business leaders and
corporate moguls. Not so. Every
organization has the ability to create successful teams that achieve positive results.
Why Are Teams Important?
Teams allow organizations to accomplish goals that individuals can’t achieve alone, especially those that are too big or complex for one person. Intentionally designed teamwork fosters
brainstorming among people of diverse backgrounds and positions. These different perspectives help to generate the very best ideas. Members of a team may see potential pitfalls with ideas or
proposed solutions, often seeing
something that might have been missed by a single individual. Finally, effective teams build morale, camaraderie, and confidence among their members. When employees feel they are part of a team, they are more committed to the organization. As a result, job satisfaction improves and turnover declines.
Are You Working as a Group or a Team?
There is an important distinction
between a team and a group. A team may be defined as a collection of individuals who work together, who have the same work objectives, and whose work is
mutually dependent 5. Groups are
created to achieve a specific purpose
(e.g., the Recycling Committee, the Social Committee) or to focus on resolving a particular issue (i.e. reducing water use in the workplace). There are also work
groups who learn from each other and share information but are not working toward a shared common goal. Many youth programs would agree that all staff and volunteers involved are working toward a shared common goal, but the
structure of the organization may be structured more like a group instead of a team.
Take look at the characteristics of
groups and teams below. Which of the characteristics are most like your program’s current structure?