• In what kind of teams have you participated?
I have personally participated in many team efforts. My team experiences all vary, from the workplace to sports that I played throughout high school. I have also worked in teams for school work and personal projects. For me, each experience has been different and rewarding. With each team that I participated with, I learned a lesson from how to deal with different personalities to dealing with different subjects and different circumstances. I have learned that it all depends on the group of people and what type of attitudes each individual has toward the team aspect. In each group and team, I was in, there was always some type of conflict. Everyone in that team had to work past their differences and and work toward their common goal. Also, everyone in the team must come up with a way to help everyone feel comfortable and respected enough to speak on their issue or issues.
• How is the communication in a team different from one-on-one communication, according to the text?
Communication in a team is different because everyone communicates differently. Verbal communication can be taken differently by all members involved. Certain words can mean different things to different people. Effective communication requires paying attention to an entire process, not just the content of the message. When you are the messenger in the process, you should consider barriers at many stages that can keep your audience from receiving your message. It is very important for the leader of the group to understand their audience. If they are able to feel comfortable and open up the chances of completing their tasks rise. A better team will be able to overcome much more if the can communicate well.
• What are some advantages of teamwork? What are some disadvantages? Be specific.
The advantages for working in a team is the speed your task and goals can be accomplished. People in a team can contribute more than one idea, creative ideas can start forming when everyone is together. Two minds are always greater than one, so in a team setting many minds can be greater than one. Every member can also give their inputs and concerns to help find a solution to any issues at hand. Sharing goals and responsibilities, gives any members of a team a sense of belonging. When a accomplishment is achieved by a team, everyone can reap all the benefits.
Disadvantages are usually common problems like unequal participation, which is usually the number one disadvantage of working in a team. When you feel everyone is not putting in as much work as you are, it is bothersome and can put a strain on the team. It can also cause great resentment amongst each other. With any team, having people on your team who aren’t a team player can be a challenge in itself. Another issue that can arise is conflict within one another can cause difficulties. Contrasting personal styles can clash and some team members can have difficulty accepting ideas that are different from theirs. In the end, communication amongst one another is key, and is the only way to resolve conflict from the very beginning.
• Identify and describe the stages of team development.
Forming, storming, norming, performing, and transforming are the five stages of team development.
Forming a group of people who come together to accomplish a common purpose. A group is either formed based on their accomplishment’s, or a group is thrown together because all members share a common goal. Storming is a process where all members or part of the team come together to resolve and disagreements about the mission ahead of them. Here all members can discuss their vision, and how they will approach the task at hand. Norming is the stage where the team has started being effective in their actions. This lead to increased cohesion and collaboration.
• How might stronger team skills benefit you? How might you use teamwork skills in your job? Provide specific examples.
Team skills have always benefited me in the workplace and in my personal life. Working in a team is beneficial to everyone involved. It helps build character and a set of skills that helps make you a great asset to any company. Being open to new ideas, showing your trust worthy, making it known you support others, will all help you gain trust and respect from others and all these things can be learned from participating in teams/groups. Once respect and communication is built, problem solving will be much easier among all members.
• What is it like to participate in a virtual meeting, such as web-based, teleconference, and so forth? Describe three ways in which this type of participation is different from participating in a face-to-face meeting.
Virtual meetings can be very different because they can take place anywhere you are. It can happen in your home, in the library, or even in a local coffee shop. Virtual meetings are an excellent option for when distances between participants are very great. These type of meetings are very time efficient because travel time is greatly reduced. These meetings will also enhance productivity in your business. But there are also situations will online meetings will not cut it. In particular, meetings relating to human resource matters such as disciplinary actions or one on one meetings with employees should always be held face to face, especially if they involve sharing difficult decisions. Body language can tell a lot about what a person is thinking or how they will react to what you are saying, virtual meetings can hide body language. People who attend virtual meetings are also more likely to multitask than those who attend meetings that are face to face.