A GROUP OF INDIVIDUAL WORKERS OR REAL TEAM?

by Kevin Thomas

Are you a group of individual workers or a real team?  Which is better?

A group of workers is not as powerful as a team working together. A group of individuals, each carrying out his or her assignment is a good thing, but could never compete with a team to produce the results a good team can.

Some people believe that assembling a group of individuals is a team. But just because they call it a team, doesn’t mean it’s a team.

A Real Team
A real team works together and knows each others’ roles.    They know they win as team and lose as a team.  They fill in for each other when a team member can’t carry his or her weight.  They understand everyone’s role is important and they encourage and help each other.  They’re about togetherness.

A Group of Individual Workers
A group of workers is a group of individuals who don’t work together.  They don’t know anyone else’s role.  They falsely believe that if they did their job, they’ve won.  They don’t fill in for anyone when they can’t carry their weight.  Their behavior tells us that they don’t believe everyone’s role is important.  Although they might be encouraging, they don’t really help others do their job.  They’re a group of individualistic people posing as a real team.

So, which is better?  A group of individuals or a real team?  A team, of course!

GROUP DISCUSSION
Ask these questions to those around you.  You can always be part of a stronger, more effective team.

1. Are we a group of individual workers or a real team?
2. What can I personally do to become a better team player?
3. What can WE do together to become a real team (or better team)?
4. When are we going to get back together to evaluate our progress toward becoming a real team?