Webster’s College Dictionary defines a team as “a number of persons associated in some joint action” and teamwork as “cooperative effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause”.1 Teamwork in a classroom teaches students the fundamental skills associated with working as a collective unit toward a common goal. When students are required to work in teams it introduces a variety of skills that will be valuable for students later in the workforce, such as communication, compromise and collective effort. In any type of group work, students must agree about who will handle various components of a project and collaborate using one another’s strengths to accomplish assigned tasks.2 Which often teaches time management, resource allocation and communication skills. Teamwork can push people to expand their skills and learn from one another in ways that might have never occurred had they not be placed on the same team. Teamwork can encourage members to learn to respect and appreciate each other as well as promote a sense of belonging.3 Working on a team forces team members to spread knowledge and to do things in a way that other people on the team can pick up if necessary. Teamwork also increases accountability. Pressure from peers is a powerful force. Particularly if you are working with people whom you respect and do not want to let down, the motivation to help your team succeed can override the lack in motivation that you encounter on days when you are not at your best. I believe collaborating with teammates improves communication skills and provides greater detail focus on the completing the project. In order to have an effective team you must be willing to cooperate and work together collectively which is the basic meaning of collaboration. When a team works collaboratively they are able to respect each other differences and use their individual experiences to produce an end result that encompasses their entire team not just one individual. Self-evaluation is a part of teamwork that increases the ability to value diversity when you collaborate with those who have a very different set of experiences and values. Therefore, teams should always identify individual strengths and weakness to gain a better understanding of what each person can contribute to the team. For example, if a teammate has an expert level of knowledge in the area of developing presentations the team should utilize this skill by having this person take a leadership role in this area. This is important because each individual on a team has something to contribute to the overall experience. If you dismiss a team members knowledge based it could decrease the success of the assignment.
Since each team member brings differing points of view to the collaborative process it can increase the team’s ability to effectively make decisions on complex issues. When persons on a team are forced to work together to resolve an issue they utilize all their skills and experiences to understand the problem and resolve it. This collaborative effort often strengthens the team as a whole because it allows the team build trust in each member’s abilities. However, differing opinions can also produce conflict within teams. When conflict arises among teams it is important that members come together to resolve issues immediately in a positive manner because if conflict is allowed to remain between the team it often results in decrease productivity. We all work in some type of team whether it be at work, school or home. Therefore is important to remember when you are working on a team you should work with each other and respect differing opinion. Identify strengths and weakness of each individual team member and look for opportunities to grow and develop skills. Cooperate and collaborate in order to produce an efficient and effective team. Conflict may occur managing it with open and honest communication is the best method.

Bibliography 1. Costello, Robert B. "Team and Teamwork." Random House Webster's College Dictionary. New York: Random House, 1995. 1369-370. Print. 2. Lau, Edmond. (January 23, 2013). Forbes.com. In Why And Where Is Teamwork Important?. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/01/23/why-and-where-is-teamwork-important/. 3. McQuerrey, Lisa. (n.d.). Chron.com. In Why Is Teamwork Important in the Classroom?. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://work.chron.com/teamwork-important-classroom-18281.html.