Creating Effective Teams

Running Head: CREATING EFFECTIVE TEAMS 1

Introduction

Working in teams is important because it leads to increased efficiency compared to when

one is working as an individual. Each member of a group has a unique contribution that helps to

drive the agenda of the whole team. However, a good team should have cohesion amongst its

members. The cohesion is mainly created through the use of effective communication methods

(Engleberg & Wynn, 2014). Instances of miscommunication have the potential to affect the

performance of a team. Communication issues create barriers to swift and efficient realization of

team goals (Wong et al., 2016). Our group experienced various communication issues that

derailed its performance. Although some of the issues were solved, they affected the time taken

to accomplish the intended objectives.

Communication Issues Experienced in Teams/Groups

During our presentation groups, there were a number of communication issues that were

experienced thus reducing the efficiency of the group. Most group members exhibited an

inability to listen to other group members. When some members were presenting their opinions,

there were some group members that failed to give them enough time to totally express their

points by interrupting them midway their talk. In some cases, members failed to comment or

answer questions that were asked at the end of presentations. It proved that most of them were

not paying attention when the team member was presenting. There are some group members who

exhibited facial expressions that indicated that they were not listening. For example, some team

members rolled their eyes when a member was presenting or just dismissed their premise. There

were some team members that had a short attention span, and therefore, were distracted easily by

CREATING EFFECTIVE TEAMS 2

other things. All these behaviors indicated a failure to listening hence hampered the effectiveness

of the group.

The effectiveness of the team was affected by the attitude and ego of individual members.

There were some members of the team who wanted to be given more opportunities to express

their points. Besides, they felt that their contributions were of high relevance hence insisted that

they should be adopted without any criticism. There were some members of the group who were

two proud to accept their mistakes. In most cases, communication issues result into conflict when

they create inequity among members instead of making them equal (Katz, Lazarsfeld, & Roper,

2017). When some members take defensive positions instead of accepting responsibility, the

group is unable to move forward. In some cases, they dismiss the premises of other members

without making a deep consideration. Therefore, attitude and ego can hamper the effectiveness

of a team.

Another common communication issue concerns authority and hierarchy problems.

Problems of hierarchy were persistent during the initial stages of discussions in our presentation

group. There were no established ground rules for interaction. Therefore, the meetings often

ended up being chaotic with some member interrupting others before they finished making their

contributions. There were members that appeared to be affected by some aspects of the

discussion but did not bring out the subject. In some cases, some members felt that the meetings

were turning too personal due to lack of moderation. It was clear that there was need for a leader

in the team. Hierarchical issues affect communication patterns thus interfering with the

effectiveness of groups or teams.

CREATING EFFECTIVE TEAMS 3

Improving Communication in Teams

For teams to function efficiently, it is important to create clear guidelines for

communication amongst the team members. The inability of some members to listen sometimes

arises due to lack of a proper agenda for a group meeting (Thibaut, 2017). Each meeting needs to

be planned in advance and the topic of discussion be communicated to every team member. It is

also important for the leaders of the group to stress the importance of listening at the beginning

of every discussion (Longenecker, Neubert, & Fink, 2007). The group leader should insist that

the members concentrate on the points being made. Besides, the leader can advise the members

to keep their contributions brief and relevant. Such measures can help to increase attentiveness in

the group meetings thus enhancing its effectiveness.

Problems of attitude and ego can be corrected by always insisting on the discussion to be

in line with the agenda of the meeting. It can sometimes be difficult to change people with

attitude and ego because they will insist on turning discussions into arguments that need to be

won (Shockley-Zalabak, 2014). The group leader should try and come to a resolution that

reflects the interests of most members. While it is important to disagree so as to agree, the group

leader should ensure that the discussions are softened and relevant to the goals of the meeting.

It is important for a team/group to establish ground rules for meetings and select the

leaders who will control discussions during meetings. Ground rules are important for ensuring

that the team sticks to its objectives during meetings (Engleberg & Wynn, 2014). They establish

how members will interact with one another, the time that will be given for each contribution,

and insist on the importance of sticking to the objectives of the group. The leaders of a group

guide the group discussions by moderating and solving any disputes that might arise.

CREATING EFFECTIVE TEAMS 4

Conclusion

Groups are important in ensuring that tasks are accomplished in an effective manner.

However, the team’s efficiency can be compromised by communication issues. The

communication issues identified included failure to listen, attitude and ego among some team

members, and authority as well as hierarchy problems. Making effective teams incorporates

creation of clear communication guidelines, ensuring that discussions are in line with the agenda

of the team, and establishing ground rules as well as selecting team leaders.

CREATING EFFECTIVE TEAMS 5

References

Engleberg, I. N., & Wynn, D. (2014). Working in groups. Pearson.

Katz, E., Lazarsfeld, P. F., & Roper, E. (2017). Personal influence: The part played by people in

the flow of mass communications. Routledge.

Longenecker, C. O., Neubert, M. J., & Fink, L. S. (2007). Causes and consequences of

managerial failure in rapidly changing organizations. Business Horizons, 50(2), 145-155.

Shockley-Zalabak, P. (2014). Fundamentals of organizational communication. Pearson.

Thibaut, J. W. (2017). The social psychology of groups. Routledge.

Wong, A. H. W., Gang, M., Szyld, D., & Mahoney, H. (2016). Making an “attitude adjustment”:

using a simulation-enhanced interprofessional education strategy to improve attitudes

toward teamwork and communication. Simulation in Healthcare, 11(2), 117-125.

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