Spam Prats Jan 21, 2010 No Comments
Two brains are always better than one but it can be a challenge to bring people together at the workplace.
Many work processes can be done faster or more efficiently with team work rather than individual contribution. However, it can be a great challenge for the human resources department to build balanced and effective teams.
The advantages of team work are multifaceted. “The interdependency in an organisation paves the way for interaction and communication without which team members become isolated. When people work together, the team’s overall performance peaks as team members even out each other’s plus and minus points,” says Jagadeesh K S, global head of human resources, Eka Software Solutions. “Today’s work environment requires collaboration not only at a local level, but also on a global scale, with teams spread across different geographies. While working as a team, each member can focus on fewer tasks at a time, improving productivity,” says Benny Augustine, director, human resources, Unisys Global Services India (UGSI). “Building teamwork is one of the key factors to increase competitive advantage. From an organisation’s perspective, talent and resources are optimised through this synergy,” points out Anita Venugopal, vice president, human resources, SAP Labs India.
Jagadeesh believes that true team spirit comes from within. “Human beings are basically social creatures and it is natural for us to work in groups. The inspiration factor has to come from within and that happens over time as individuals develop mutual respect for each other and accept each other for what they are. Over time this will mature into trust after which the team actually starts performing as a team. Till then it is individuals working in a group.” Talking about how a group morphs into a team he says, “During the initial phase when individuals are assessing each other, the manager’s role will be to ensure that all members are treated equally – there is no favouritism or bias which can trigger negative reactions. If this initial phase can be managed in a mature, objective way, then the team naturally becomes a team.” He believes that a team should be tolerant of individual differences. “Some have a natural talent to vibe with a group and there are a few who are reticent. Over time, even the most reticent of people begin opening up. One does not `deal’ with such people. One just gives every individual the space to be himself,” he says.
The role of the team leader in making the team work is extremely crucial. “Teams work together when they see value in other members. So while creating a team is important for business success, it is developing the goals and assigning responsibilities that is equally critical. It’s the team leader’s job to ensure that this is done. Many a time teams are created without clarity of purpose and objective. Besides positive thinking etc, it’s the clarity on the team’s purpose that can dramatically improve team performance. You need to treat a team comprising individuals, but also as an entity. The other critical role for the team leader is to understand team dynamics, manage individual personalities and ensure smooth co-operation,” explains Jagadeesh. He adds further, “It’s the role of the team leader to ensure each individual issues are sorted out, there is proper communication. And as a last resort if things are not working out, look for a replacement. Ultimately objectives for the team have to be met – individual issues can only be reconciled to an extent. The team leader needs to show patience, display an understanding of human issues, be tough when required and issue warnings, and then be prepared to take a decision against the individual. A team is greater than an individual.”
So what are the qualities of a good team player? “It is crucial that every member of a team has the capability and expertise to deliver what the team requires of them. At Unisys India, we look for team players who involve others in the decision making process, take responsibility for problems rather than assigning blame, encourage the development of other team members, are respectful and tolerant of individual differences, and acknowledge and work through conflict openly. But we find that the most important quality is to be open to ideas and feedback,” says Augustine.
Thus, anyone can be a good team player if given enough time and opportunity.
Source: www.timesascent.in
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