Question

Discuss some threats to team effectiveness (e. g. dysfunctional conflict, social loafing etc.). How to handle these threats?

Answer 1

Team:

A team can be defined as, a set of individuals with different set of background working towards one objective\goals in an organization.

Some threats to team effectiveness are:

1. Conflict Management: One main threat to team effectiveness is conflict and the way it is managed. Conflict is a situation where one disagree to others opinion in a rude manner in the organization and this can be resolved through on understanding which leads to the disputes among the members. When there is no conflict there will not be any cultural differences in the organization.

2. Inter-Personal Relationship: When team member lacks bonding with each other and interpersonal relations are negative then there is high chance of a team being ineffective.

3. Control: One team member trying to control the other during work is a major problem. This issues arise when one feel superior to the other which should not be the case for a good team.

4. Repetition of work: The organization structure plays a major role teams effectiveness. All team members doing the same work would end up at inefficiency.

These threats can be handled through below ways:

1. Communication: An effective manager should have the ability to convey messages with clarity. Manager can expect positive results only when he lets his team know what is expected out of them. Also communication has to be in a timely manner. He/she should know what to communicate and when to communicate.

2. Bonding: For a team to be effective, a harmonious relationship within individuals is a must. When a set of people with different thinking and behaviour work as a team to achieve a common objective, a sort of unity is needed. This bonding builds over a period of time but it depends on the team members to sustain it.

3. Organized: Repetition and delay of work can be avoided when a team is organized. Team members should be able to plan their work proactively so that every member in the team does not end up doing the same work. Also work has to be allotted systematically to avoid any last moment changes.

4. Decision making: Taking right decision at the right time is must for an effective manager. Decisions have to be appropriate and thought through and should avoid haste decision making.

5. Motivation: A motivated team performs better. Hence one of the important skills of an effective manager is to influence the behaviour of his team members towards achievement of goals.

6. Work towards single goal: A team has to be focused on the set goals for them. Every individual’s contribution is must to succeed the organizations goal. So it is understandable that team members should not work in different directions.

7. Gatherings: When the team is spread across face to face meetings once in a while would help to a great extent. This can be formal or informal gatherings where everyone gets a chance to meet the colleagues whom they are working on a day to day basis. A personal rapport would also develop here.