1 The Myths and Realities of Teamwork Student Name Withheld Division of Business Administration, University f the People BUS 5113: Organization Theory Dr. James Nilo March 9, 2022 The Myths and Realities of Teamwork Myths and realities of teamwork is an exciting collection of thoughts from a scholar who has spent more than thirty years establishing teams in the organization. David Wright focused on explaining major stapes that signal a team's journey to success without succumbing to a series of challenges on the way (Wright, 2013). Wright emphasizes that personal needs should not be ignored even in a very robust team environment. Teams are essential in workplaces because they help organizations to realize their objectives by sharing insight on joint projects (Laegaard & Bindslev, 2006). However, working in a team triggers a particular set of complexities associated with the behavioral dynamics of the group members. The dynamics created within a team can directly impact or fail the organization. This essay explains the myths and realities as outlined in Wright's book. 2 There are six notable myths according to Wright's book. The first myth is that a team comprises harmonious people (Wrightt, 2013). It implies that a team consists of people working together while sacrificing their personal views for the team's greater good. A great team is comprised of diverse people with unique needs. When diversity is acknowledged and utilized effectively, it can become the team's strength. However, the reality of this myth is that constant harmony can result in team members being too friendly and may prevent the team from acknowledging challenges and making necessary adjustments. For instance, if a team is too "nice," individuals may be afraid to raise issues that make them appear wrong or uninformed. Such incidents can make it difficult for group members to propose alternative solutions that result in better outcomes. The second is that team conflict is unhealthy. It is widely believed that disagreeing within a team is unhealthy and results in lower outcomes. However, Tannenbaum and Salas (2020) believe that having a little discord in a group is not always bad. Similarly, Laegaard and Bindslev (2006) argue that conflict encourages creativity and reduces inefficiency in the workplace. As team members are compelled to work through disagreement, they can make measurable progress towards achieving the desired goal. I have realized that when people misunderstand, they can think more profoundly through the issue and come up with an effective solution. The disagreement provides each team member with a vital voice for effective teamwork. Most people like teamwork. It is widely believed that individuals prefer to work within a team. However, individuals have different personality traits that make them suitable or not suitable in a teamwork environment. The reality is that some people would prefer to work in an isolated environment. The team should be able to create an environment that promotes the work preferences of each individual. Even though this can be challenging for the team, individuals who like their 3 private working space can achieve much if left to work alone instead of forcing them into an environment that would keep them uncomfortable and unable to work. Teamwork is crucial for business success. In most cases, people believe that working in a team is vital for success. However, it is possible to succeed in some incidences without working in a group. According to Rysavy and Michalak (2020), individuals can strive for personal excellence to enhance their capability while caring about the team. This happens to be one of my favorite myths and one I have encountered most in my career. The aspect of teamwork is often emphasized in my line of duty. As an individual working in a non-governmental organization, most of our projects require inputs from different stakeholders. I have always believed that a successful project can be achieved through teamwork. While working in a team can be desirable for the business's success, being a team player is not enough; individuals need to have personal competence. Knowing that some people cannot effectively express their opinion in a team environment, I often encourage those who are uncomfortable expressing their beliefs in a meeting to write down their points and submit them for consideration. It is a myth to believe that teams are easier to manage and influence. In reality, it requires competent and skilled leadership to manage a team effectively. Managers need to be aware of the behaviors and effects on the team. It would require courage for the administration to limit the role while developing solid and successful teamwork effectively. I agree with both reality and myth. For instance, if a manager can create a good relationship with a team, it would be easier for them to work with the team without getting much resistance. Finally, Myth six suggests that managers encourage teamwork. However, the reality is that most managers do not like working with teams due to the fear of losing control. This reality is valid depending on the manager's leadership personality. While some managers may be willing to 4 delegate duties to manage the operation effectively, others may feel that promoting teamwork would get them out of control. In summary, all the six myths and realities show that teams are unique and dynamic groups that require effective leadership and management. People need to acknowledge that working in a team is not easy, but team members can succeed through effective coordination and unique individual personalities. Because of their dynamic nature, teams are likely to experience conflicts, thus making it necessary for the team members to learn about conflict management and diversity. References Laegaard, J.&Bindslev. M. (2006). Organizational Theory (1st ed). Ventus Publishing & Bookboon.com Rysavy, M. D., & Michalak, R. (2020). Working from home: How we managed our team remotely with technology. Journal of Library Administration, 60(5), 532-542 Tannenbaum, S., & Salas, E. (2020). Teamwork Myths: What Leaders Need to Know. Leader to Leader, 2020(98), 58-64. Write D. (2013). Myths and Realities of teamwork. Retrieved from http://www.consultwright.com/Chapter_1-Myths_and_Realities_of_Teamwork.pdf (My tamplete has a problem I could not remove the formatting errors. Kindly keep this in mind)
