Addressing Challenges of Groups and Teams Paper

Addressing Team Challenges

An effective training program considers a variety of issues, such as the organization’s goals and vision, team diversity, communication styles and systematic training methods. Unlike individual work that consists of independent processes, private thoughts, and personal insights, teams work together to achieve a common goal through brainstorming sessions, collaboration of skills, and playing to each others strengths and weaknesses. Effective teams must communicate, collaborate and quell conflicts to stay on task and deliver quality results. Team training should be implemented by addressing communication techniques, company goals, visions and standards, diversity sensitivity, conflict management, ethical decision making and team building. By preparing teams through an assortment of trainings, individual members will have the tools and knowledge to reach team goals that are inline with company goals.

Enron’s inability to communicate among departments and make ethical decisions lead to the company’s demise. Several Enron employees focused on individual gains and failed to work together for the good of the company and its stakeholders. Enron employee training may have eliminated individual greed and refocused employees to the goal and vision of the organization.

3 C’s of an Effective Team

Team members must communicate to express ideas, disperse information and discuss options and decisions. “Communication serves four major functions within a group or organization: control, motivation, emotional expression, and information” (Judge & Robbins, 2007, p. 368). Communication can be conducted verbally, in writing and through body language. If communication within the team breaks down, the team goal will be unattainable. Teams lacking valuable communication skills will fall victim to confusion and frustration that can prevent goals from being met. Effective communication can lead to team collaboration whereas a breakdown in...