It is my belief that individuals can accomplish amazing feats when working in teams, feats that may not be possible without a collective effort. Conversely, however, individuals including myself often also experience intense frustration when dealing with others to reach a common goal. In other words, as with all things teams have their pros and cons. There are all types of teams: sports teams, product teams, familial teams, team assignments, scholastic teams etc., but it has been my experience that no matter what type of team one is dealing with there are key benefits and downfalls that are characteristic of all teams no matter how different they appear on the surface. The primary benefits of teamwork in my opinion are as follows:.
Teams create energy and enthusiasm. The mix of perspectives leads to new ideas. When the right people are involved, the solutions they develop are more widely accepted than if created by one person. Teams help people feel connected to the organization.
The primary negative aspects of teamwork include:.
The mix of opinions leads to watered-down solutions. Building a consensus takes a long time. Petty resentments build when team members do not do their fair share of the work. Sometimes it is difficult to be yourself because you have to "get along." Power struggles and egotism may arise Differing goals may be an issue.
Keeping the aforementioned in mind, it is my contention that one should understand their role as a team member and how best to minimize the negative aspects that are inherent in all teams. For example, I find that regardless of whether I am in a personal team, professional team, or an academic team I enjoy being a leader if my teammates believe in and try to cultivate the pros I have outlined above. If however, the other members of my team engage in the typical con behavior I get extremely frustrated and try to realign the team with our objectives.
