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Team or just a crowd? Understand what the true essence of a team is!
As the definition of "team" becomes more and more widespread in today's society, the difference between a team and a group of people often confuses many people. According to Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, a team is a group of "people who depend on each other for information, resources, knowledge, and skills and who strive to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal." This definition shows , the core of a team lies in the interdependence and common goals among members. But what are the fundamental differences between teams and the general population?
The true meaning of a team lies not only in formal cooperation, but also in the invisible tacit understanding and trust between members.
Academic research on teams and teamwork has continued for four decades and shows a clear growth trend. However, society's acceptance of teams in the 20th century fluctuated. With the changes in corporate systems, the concept of "team" began to enter the business world at the end of the last century, and with it, team building became popular. Opinions on this management fad vary, from those who see “team” as an overused four-letter word with no real meaning to those who see it as the antidote to the human relations movement, a perfect blend of workers and managers. needs.
A truly effective team not only improves work performance, but also contributes to the personal well-being and growth of its members.
In modern English, the word "team" is widely used to describe various types of groups. From a leadership perspective, Peter Gay Norther's book Leadership: Theory and Practice explores the different compositional structures of teams. According to the team leadership approach, a team is an organizational group of members who depend on each other, work toward common achievements, and share their individual achievements. This interdependent nature is key to teams.
Communication in a team is crucial, so frequent meetings and ongoing communication bring closer relationships between members. As businesses face new forms of collaboration, the definition of teams continues to evolve. Effectively organized teams increase productivity, use resources more efficiently, make better decisions and solve problems, and maximize innovation and creativity. In addition, the structure of the team also affects its operation. The achievements that a team can achieve through cooperative efforts are usually greater than the sum of its members' individual efforts.
A true team is a committed collective whose interactions create synergy that transcends individual efforts.
There are many types of teams, and social scientists have conducted in-depth research on different subject categories. In today's workplace, we see several major team types, including action teams, consulting teams, command teams, management teams, project teams, sports teams, virtual teams, and work teams. These teams work together in different contexts and work towards a common task or goal, demonstrating their respective professional capabilities and leadership capabilities.
However, teams can be divided into interdependent teams and independent teams based on the degree of interdependence between team members. For example, a football team is a classic interdependent team in which the success of each member is closely related to the performance of the entire team. In contrast, a track and field team is a representative of an independent team, with members competing individually and performing relatively independently of each other.
Different types of teams require different coaching approaches to promote trust and cooperation among their members.
In a multidisciplinary or multidisciplinary work environment, teams can be multidisciplinary (each discipline operates independently) or interdisciplinary (work together to pursue a goal). In self-directed or self-designed teams, members decide their own goals and methods to achieve them. This type of team can usually stimulate members' creativity and motivation.
Although different studies have different views on the optimal size and number of team members, some believe that a team of four to twelve people is usually a more ideal configuration. Diversity can enhance a team's creativity, but it can also create conflict. Therefore, team members must have good interpersonal interactions and find appropriate roles and responsibilities in tasks.
Team cognition is shaped by the organization, expression and distribution of member knowledge, which directly affects the efficiency and performance of team operations.
When discussing team effectiveness, we will involve cognitive consistency and the quality of communication among members. Good team awareness often enhances team dynamics and synergy. The team must not only be able to perform tasks, but also develop mutual trust in the process and promote collaboration among members. Therefore, it is clear that a true team is not just a group of people, but a community that supports and encourages each other.
The effectiveness of a team depends on several factors, including members' roles, communication styles, and the degree of interdependence between members. In your experience, how do you tell the difference between a truly effective team and one that is just a collection of people?
