Advantages and Disadvantages of Teams

I believe we all have had experiences working on teams, or witnessing outcomes associated with concepts associated with teams.  Truthfully, being part of a team is a great way to pull resources (skills) to reach goals, and learn from ideologies that can sharpen one’s skills.  A good team will take advantage of individual’s skill and align them in ways to achieve the overall mission.  As a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a good team will take advantage of individual’s talent while increasing effectiveness and efficiency not found when individual’s work alone.  But in order to gain the most from a team concept, its best to understand the greatest advantages and disadvantages in order to construct the best strategy for one’s team. 

   

One of the first advantages is that the work is divided among team players.  This division of duties reduces workload while focusing on the skills of the individuals that will help produce first-class caliber outcomes.  Furthermore teams create responsibility that showcases accountability of an individual, while building friendships.  This is an integral needed attribute in formulating leadership which helps individuals become effective followers.  Finally I feel teams helps individuals learn how to manage projects that helps motive oneself and across all organizational sectors.

 

Working on a team also comes with disadvantages.  For starters, if individuals are not willing to share different ideas and strategies are not challenged, this concept will create a group-think.  When this occurs, learning is stalled, skills become stagnate and the organizational culture is compromised.  Social loafing can also cause conflict within the team, as this concept can mask the true level of input of individual’s workload, and dedication.  Another issue found in teams occurs when individual’s skills do not match the game play, creating a “marriage” of inequality.  The most important thing about team work and team building is to remember that one must remember an effective team is one that is aligned with the organization’s mission and wants positive results that address the overall mission of the organization.