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Everyone knows that teamwork is important to success, but its only been
recently that scientists have cracked the code of what makes a team successful.
If theres not enough diversity to create conflict, teams tend to fill into predictable
ruts. Whats important here isnt the appearance of diversity, but diversity of
culture and ways of thinking.
Thats the same brain chemical thats released (in much greater quantities of
course) during a sexual orgasm. The takeaway here is that people enjoy work
more when theyre on a good team.
Teams work best when members listen and talk in equal measure. If one member
takes control and begins to dominate the discussions, it creates resentment. The
team falters.
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Diverse teams are more creative and get more done but they require a team
manager (not an individual contributor) whose full time job is to help team
members communicate and work together, despite their diversity.
While Einsteins and Newtons do exist, theyre exceedingly rare. In real life,
brilliant people are more effective and creative when working with others,
especially those who are equally brilliant.
Men feel dissatisfied and less committed to a project when assigned to a team
consisting of more women than men. Women, however, are apparently unaffected
by this ratio.
Despite the stereotype that youthful energy trumps all, practical business
experience turns out to be a useful thing to have on a team. However, mixed-age
teams have more creative abrasion and thus require more active management.
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Even with all the technology available today, teams work better together and get
more done when members are in close physical proximity. If a team must be
virtual, it should have periodic in-person team meetings.
SUCCESSFUL TEAMS
Characteristics of successful teams include:
open-mindedness
involvement
ability to deal with conflict
responsibility
trust
respect for others
effective listening
full participation
Rob Heselbarth (1997) notes that "a strong team is built by distributing
responsibility, authority, and information". The individuals working as a team, as
well as the team itself, must possess these characteristics. These characteristics
can be evaluated through Pollar's (1997) five categories of team evaluation:
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impact on the individuals and their jobs; therefore, they are more interested in
their work.
www.wildcarpathia.org