The results of successful teamwork are all around us; from catchy advertising campaigns, to nice vehicles, even to the clothes we wear. These are all a direct result of successful teamwork at various stages in the value chain. There’s no way around it: Every significant human accomplishment is the result of coordinated group behaviour – people working together to achieve a common goal.
As these successes influence on our daily lives, we can reflect on the synergies and unity of direction that drove the respective teams to deliver. However, the reality is that teamwork is challenging; it takes a lot of time to get it right, and it is not for everybody.
Today’s working environment relies heavily on teams so the common myths around them should be understood.
Teams are harmonious people who compromise on their needs for the sake of the team
The assumption is that people are easily and readily capable of putting aside personal requirements for the overall team goal, with no conflict or divergence of ideas. In reality, this is never the case. Harmony is the prospective result of the final sequence of team creation, following several disruptive events. Maintaining harmony is also very challenging. Even at this, it may be difficult or impossible for these team members to put aside their needs for the sake of the team – it may simply not be valuable enough for them.
Team conflict is unhealthy
Conflict is essentially inevitable when you work with others. This myth propagates the belief that any conflict is unhealthy and damaging. In fact, conflict can be beneficial, as it can alleviate existing negativity and move the team on. Conflict is a normal part of team formation and, while it should not be encouraged, should not be viewed as a significant negative.
Most people like teamwork
In reality, while many people do enjoy teamwork, it is not for all as demonstrated by a recent study by the University of Phoenix that revealed that nearly 85 percent of U.S employees think working on teams in the office is difficult. In addition, individual receptivity to teamwork can be impacted by a myriad of variables, such as the tasks that are being worked towards and personality characteristics. Oftentimes the prospect of teamwork foisted upon us; as you must work cross functionally to achieve a common goal, with input from many and varied stakeholders.
Teamwork is essential to business success
This myth depends on the assumption that teams can achieve more than individuals. However, this is dependent on the complexity of the task at hand and to the knowledgebase of the team assigned. It may be more apt to have an individual manage the task, or a different and smaller team.
Teams are easy to influence and manage
This is true when dealing with a ready and willing team, with whom you are able to provide guidance and structure for an immediate move towards the required goal. In reality, teams are more difficult to manage than individuals. People are more empowered to become challenging, to garner support for counter-productive measures within teams.
Oftentimes, the requirement to work in a team is not chosen, it is forced through a business requirement to achieve a common goal, or to overcome a certain obstacle, project or regulatory change. Articulating the reality of teams versus the myth is not difficult; it represents the everyday challenges of working with people. However, it is important not to forget what can be achieved by great teams - together, we are better. Therefore, ensuring adequate leadership of the team, complimented by a solid structure with a clearly defined goal will hopefully mitigate the challenges of working together, thereby delivering a satisfactory outcome.