Whenever we conduct any Teambuilding, there are always common recurring challenges that make a group, not a team. Despite the greater emphasis on teams, there is confusion between what a team is and what a group is. The differences between the two are subtle yet significant.
“A TEAM is a small group of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.”
“A GROUP is a large group of people working together where goals or objectives are either personal or unclear; information is given on a ‘need to know bases’; trust and openness measured; conflict is hidden, and feelings are shown but not discussed.”
Secondly, I discover that organizational face difficulties and challenges in building, developing and maintaining a TEAM.
1. Lack of Role Models At The Top
- The team at the top of organizations are the most difficult to create
- Top teams do not always set the best examples of how to work together. They may have their arguments on issues, but for many, it has become personal, and the confrontation and uneasiness continue long after.
2. Lack of Action on Performance
- The organization does not take action on the poor performers, and for the performers, no additional rewards.
- Teams need to deliver results; otherwise, why do we have them?
3. Too many TEAMS:
- Teams are seen as the answer to all problems.
- If every ‘time a problem or a new challenge arises, the answer is ‘let’s put together a team.’ Even when a single person can do it so much faster
4. Emphasis on The INDIVIDUAL:
- The organization recognizes individuals and not teams
- The appraisal scheme is geared to individual performance.
5. CULTURE of competition:
- The organization’s culture does not encourage co-operation instead breed unnecessary competition.
- If the culture is one where taking risks is not promoted, and mistakes are remembered, people will play safe.
6. Lack of Communication
- The larger the team, the more challenging to communicate with everyone.
- The larger the team, the higher chance of divide and conquer occurring for easier management.
If we keep to the above practices, the group will never be a team.
