Question

Imagine you are on a work team that has two people who make all the decisions. These two people tend to work closely together and ignore your input during meetings. Two other team members have stopped contributing to the team and sometimes don’t even attend meetings. The team has been together for over three months now. Your supervisor wants you to talk with the entire team about how all of you can function together and work more effectively as a cohesive team.

Using this topic as your inspiration, write a short response in a Word document on how you would approach this situation. Address the following questions in your response:

What will you say when you address the entire team?

What strategies would you recommend the team put in place so that the team can function more effectively?

What are two possible objections you might get from your team members?

How would you overcome those two objections during the meeting?

Your response should be 400 to 500 words in length.

Answer 1

This situation on teamwork where majority of decisions are made by two people in a team. The other team members have become disinterested and do not involve themselves in the team. The two people who are taking all decisions and do not appreciate contributions of other team members are trying to seek the control of the situation. The importance of teamwork needs to be advised and an open discussion for clarifying the situation is required so that the necessary process is followed considering opinions and interests of the involved members.

To approach this situation following steps can be followed:-

To say while addressing the entire team - It is important to accept the team has been constituted for achieving some purpose and work together for some goals. The team can contribute towards these goals by accomplishing more in a given time and produce a more quality work by giving and receiving feedback, analyzing and making the necessary changes. The team members need to focus on the output and the objectives and ignore their individual differences and personal opinions while working for a common goal.

Strategies recommended for the team so that it can function more effectively - The strategies that team can follow are having roles and responsibilities in the team and working towards them so that everyone is contributing as per their interests and abilities. This can lead to the work completion and give the chance to have responsiblities and achievement. The team should have interpersonal goals also like mentoring and building understanding on important issues. The effective teamwork can be rewarded by giving more responsible positions and resources and can be evaluated on the performance of each team member.

Two possible objections might receive from team members - The team members can raise objections regarding the level of hierarchy in the team and type of work division. They might object on the difference in performance standards, abilities, commitment of each team member and how individual contribution be recognized and evaluated. The team members can also object on difference in approaches on key issues and the resolution for the same.

Overcoming the objections during the meeting - The objections can be overcome explaining that each team member will have clear goals and responsibilities and the help of supervisor can be taken in finalizing and negotiating them. The difference in approaches can be resolved through mutual discussion and executing the work as per the goals and framework given for execution like time, costs, resources and output. The team members need to be explained on the importance of cohesiveness in the team and its use for accomplishing the given goals as per the schedule. Team members can be encouraged to find a way which suits everyone in the team and considers the interests and doubts by mutual understanding and listening of the issues involved.