Topics: Teamwork

Teamwork

Teamwork is a joint action by two or more people, in which each person contributes with different skills and express his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group in order to achieve common goals. This does not mean that the individual is no longer important; however, it does mean that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond individual accomplishments. The most effective teamwork is produced when all the individuals involved harmonize their contributions and work towards a common goal. + Teamwork Is an old old wooden ship - - In order for teamwork to succeed one must be a team player. A team player is one who subordinates personal aspirations and works in a coordinated effort with other members of a group, or team, in striving for a common goal. Businesses and other organizations often go to the effort of coordinating team building events in an attempt to get people to work as a team rather than as individuals. - - The forming-storming-norming-performing model takes the team through four stages of team development and maps quite well on to many project management life cycle models, such as initiation - definition - planning - realization. - - As teams grow larger, the skills and methods that people require grow as more ideas are expressed freely. Managers must use these to create or maintain a spirit of teamwork change. The intimacy of a small group is lost, and the opportunity for misinformation and disruptive rumors



Teamwork can be more than two people but the importance is working as one. It doesn't matter whether you like the person or not bringing you talents together can help you rise to your best!



Fans remember Michael Jordan’s basket that won the National Basketball Association Championship for the Chicago Bulls, not the rebound of Dennis Rodman or the pass of John Paxson that made this great victory possible. In politics, we remember the President that delivered the State of the Union address not the team of speechwriters that carefully crafted and edited his speech. Even at the symphony, few patrons can recall more the name of the conductor and the soloists. These are just a few examples of how in our society; we tend to value individual accomplishments. Fortunately, we are slowly beginning to recognize the importance of teamwork in sports, business, and school. Sports offer some of the finest examples of the importance of teamwork. Great athletes always acknowledge that great teams win championships, not great individuals. As Babe Ruth said, “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.” For example a football running back and quarterback’s ability are totally dependent on the strength of their offensive line. A basketball center’s ability in scoring is mainly dependent on his team’s willingness to pass. Even a NASCAR driver’s finish depends on the speed and skill of his pit crew. Sports are full of clichés like, “There is no I in team.” While this has often been commonly acknowledged wisdom, only recently has it been scientifically established. In 2006, two statistics professors at Brigham Young University concluded after a long-term study of NBA basketball games that teamwork truly was the most important factor in winning. While many might think that scoring or rebounding statistics were the most important, these professors mathematically proved that the ratio of assists to turnovers, a great of measure of teamwork, was the best predictor of success over a season. Based on this study, it is easy to understand why the teams with the highest payrolls seldom consistently win championships. While individual skill and effort in sports is important, teamwork is paramount. Teamwork has also become increasingly acknowledged as an essential skill for employees in companies both small and large. Today’s increasingly global economy places a premium on teamwork in the workplace. For companies that often produce goods on one continent and then over a matter of a few days must transport, store and deliver them to customers on another continent, teamwork is not just important, it is essential. Teamwork has become so valued that many large corporations have developed specific tests to measure potential employees’ teamwork abilities. Many companies are even acknowledging this in their job titles by changing the designation of supervisors or managers to “team leader.” While CEO’s make the headlines, modern corporations could not function without teamwork. Teamwork in school is just as important as teamwork in sports and business. The teachers and administrators at LFCDS recognize the importance of teamwork. A team of teachers now teaches the fifth grade to help students transition into the Upper School. Students are also encouraged to work collaboratively on academic projects and in competitions such as the Lego League robotics competition. These projects aid students in developing the essential skills they will need when they enter the working world. At LFCDS, we have always emphasized group projects as well individual assignments. Students that succeed in group efforts understand that they must make them team projects rather than group projects. There are subtle but very important differences between group and team projects. A team project is when members of the teamwork work interdependently towards the same goal. It is also a team project, when every member in the group feels a sense of ownership of their role. In a group project, members work independently and are often not working towards the same goal. The members in the group also focus a lot on themselves because they are not involved in the planning of their goals. It is not hard to explain why team projects always surpass group projects. Next time you watch a replay of an eighty-four yard Brett Farve touchdown pass, watch the offensive line that blocked for him rather than the wide receiver that made the diving catch. When you hear a political candidate give an inspired speech, remember the team of staffers the helped research, write, and edit it. Finally, when you attend your next play or symphony, take at hard look at the program to see all the performers and support crew that worked together to make the show possible. While the outside observer will always remember individual achievements, every participant in any group endeavor knows the importance of teamwork.



Source: Wikipedia