Team Dynamics and Performance

Key Concepts

• Process Gain

  • Achieved when teams produce more or higher quality outputs collectively than individually.
  • Aim of teamwork to exceed individual capabilities.

• Process Loss

  • Occurs when team performance is less than individual contributions.
  • Can be reduced by clear roles, task assignments, and minimizing free riders.

Improving Team Performance

1. Developing Team Efficacy

• Team Efficacy: Shared belief in the team's ability to reach goals.
• High team cohesion leads to motivation and adherence to norms.
• Lack of cohesion results in compromised performance.

2. Building Trust

• Confidence in teammates honoring commitments.
• Achieved through positive experiences, shared goals, and understanding of teammates.
• Essential for smooth team operations.

3. Preventing Social Loafing

• Social Loafing: Team members reduce effort when individual contributions aren't evaluated.
• Caused by reliance on others to do undesirable tasks.
• Opposite is Social Facilitation, where members work harder in presence of others.

Strategies to Prevent Social Loafing:

• Keep team size small.
• Clarify team expectations.
• Make individual contributions identifiable.

Role of Managers

Establishing Clear Roles

• Defined behaviors and tasks per team member.
• Reduces conflict and enhances performance.

Establishing Positive Norms

• Norms ensure high performance by setting expectations.
• Examples: punctuality, preparation, full participation.

Setting Goals and Providing Feedback

• High-performing teams have clear, challenging goals.
• Shared goals and sub-goals promote commitment.
• Team rewards tied to performance enhance motivation.

Conclusion

• Managers should focus on promoting cohesiveness, trust, and clear roles.
• Clear goals and feedback mechanisms are vital for effective teamwork.