Principles of Management - Week # 12

Chapter 14 - Group Dynamics and Teamwork

On this chapter we have discussed the following issues: -The definition of a group - The significance of cohesiveness, roles, norms and Ostracism in regards to the behavior of group members. - The Six stages of group development - Organizational politics - Groupthink and blind conformity - Management of virtual teams - Team effectiveness - Teamwork and trust Some personal thoughts.......... Past experience as a group leader I used to work as a shift-leader (you can call it a team leader) in a tourist services company at the airport in Israel. we used to meet & assist v.i.p clients and also escort groups around the airport upon arrival and departure. My experience as a team leader was a good one, mainly because my co-workers had high motivation and good working ethics. We had to cooperate and put our outmost into our work, especially during summer times when tourism was at its best in Israel and the airport was too small and too crowded...As a team leader I used to run around the airport like everyone else, doing my share of the work equally as everyone else. I think it motivated my team members to put in their outmost as well. Team leading experiences from the present... I am currently leading a project for this class, which is NOT EASY! we had a bumpy start but it's getting better and better as we get closer to the end of the project. Some people do their share properly, stand in schedule etc', and other people need to be chased around. I discovered that creating an "element of fear" (as my professor calls it) helps a little ... (LOL). Do I like doing that ? not in particular. Do I enjoy leading a team ? definitely. This project really makes me think if I have what it takes to be a team leader or a project manager. I think I have to work on my ability to delegate. Sometimes I feel like : if I don't do everything by myself - I must be dropping too much stuff to do on others" - this is totally incorrect, and even if I do - that's my job as a team leader. I am pretty good at setting an example and building trust among my co-workers. I am not so good confronting people- how can you manage a team effectively without becoming a total B**** !?! ;-) (Let's call it "the wicked witch of the west" ... ) And virtual groups, like the one I am managing now, are the hardest. How can a manager create an effective virtual team? Virtual team's success depends on trust, communication and team building. Managers can build an effective virtual team by developing trust between management and employee and among employees - by having a proper orientation and periodic face to face meetings. Communication should be developed effectively and it includes clear definition of role expectations, performance norms, goals and deadlines. In addition : all members of the team should be clearly identified. the purpose of the team, its mission and goals should be identified. and last : a team process should be developed by defining how will the work be done, who will do what and so on.