Team Dynamics - Have you got it right?
9 September 2010
Whether you are one amongst a team of employees or the boss; we at People Vision believe that the dynamics of a team in the workplace are very important. Team dynamics are the unseen forces that exist in a team between the different members. The way the dynamics work within a team can have a detrimental effect on the success of a business from decreased productivity to absenteeism. Team dynamics can seriously influence how a team reacts, behaves or performs therefore it is essential that everyone within the group and those working with the group on the outside understand how it operates.
Employees who can work together are the most productive and profitable. They are able to develop their problem solving skills, increase the quality of the work they’re doing and increase turnover. It is well known that teams have an overall high success rate when well structured and the communication between the team members is open and constructive.
Within a team there are bound to be people who get on better than others. Even the way that two people interact with each other can affect the way the entire team operates both negatively and positively. For example, within a team of say, 6 people, if two of these people have a very strong friendship this relationship can act as a ‘natural force’ either upsetting or consolidating the team dynamics.
But how do you recognise team dynamics? You can do this by looking at the forces that influence team behaviour. Here are a few examples:
1. Personality styles can have a huge effect on how people operate within a team. For example, a confident, outspoken person may intimidate a less-confident, quieter person and affect their ability to perform to the fullest. Click here for the personality profiling service that People Vision offer.
2. The roles that employees play within the team are crucial. Each person needs to be fully aware of not only their own job title and responsibilities but also those of others so they are clear on the hierarchy of authority within the organisation.
3. The layout of the office may have a negative effect on the feeling of togetherness, for example if there is a overgrown office plant separating the team into two separate sections.
We are all unique individuals and our values may be quite different from those held by the other people within our team. In order to build positive team dynamics we need to remember that although we are all different, each individual will definitely have something unique that they can contribute to the group.
 |
Article written by Alyson Pellowe: Managing HR Consultant People Vision HR |
