Training_Teams_and_Groups

Employees in today’s business world are expected to collaborate on group and team projects that can impact the entire organization. The sad fact is many people hesitate or dislike working in a group or team settings mostly as a result of prior experience or perhaps just from what they have heard. In order to lessen this hesitation, companies can use training programs to increase employee skills in the areas of collaboration, conflict management, and communication. For teams to be effective they must understand the strengths and weaknesses of each member. A very useful method of achieving this is for the members to fill out a team charter upon the groups’ formation. Not only does it include contact information, but it includes relevant experience (relevant to the teams’ purpose) as well as individual member skills. Poor communication is probably the main contributor to Daimler-Chrysler’s sales declines. “Because individuals spend nearly 70 percent of their waking hours communicating — writing, reading, speaking, listening — it seems reasonable to conclude that one of the most inhibiting forces to successful group performance is a lack of effective communication” (Robbins $ Judge, 2007, p.368). Implementing an effective communication training plan will first start with the type of communication that will be used throughout Daimler-Chrysler. Downward communication is the most common communication paths. “It’s used by group leaders and managers to assign goals, provide job instructions, inform employees of policies and procedures, point out problems that need attention, and offer feedback about performance” (Robbins & Judge, 2007, p.369). One of the greatest challenges of organizational communication is the difficulty in portraying or controlling the mood, emotion, or motivation in electronic and printed forms of communication. There is a lot of important information in nonverbal communications. Therefore a significant key to success would be incorporating forms of both nonverbal and verbal communications; this can be achieved by holding monthly or even weekly manager/supervisor meetings. Within the team communication can either make or break the team; therefore, team members must be able to verbalize their feelings, express plans and goals with their teammates. Effective communication will improve the productivity and overall structure of the team. The team needs to define and ensure that the goal is shared by all members, ensure the work is divided equally with the team members and trust each other by having open communication. Otherwise, “group coordinators and key personnel get overburdened, important information fails to be communicated, coordination efforts fails, and severe consequences and losses can occur.” (Ren, Kiesler, & Fussell, 2008, p.3). When team members are challenged, they are inspired to brainstorm, work together, and use his or her talent to create extraordinary results; however, teammates should be aware of the challenges they may face. The teammates will confront with time constraints, loss of flexibility, and division of roles According to Yukl (2006) Team building exercises play an important role is increasing a teams cohesiveness, cooperation and success. Examples of things that can be done are emphasizing common interests and values, encouraging and facilitating social interaction such as the whole work team meets for dinner one night or forms a company softball team, this would flow in nicely with having a group identifier or symbol. Individuals feel loyalty to teams and groups that have identities or a strong sense of purpose. Additional employee training will help each member identify key organizational issues such as company strategy, corporate culture, change, understanding group processes, appreciate the value of supportive organizational structure. As well as understanding the key dynamics that shape the organization. Hopefully all this training will help the employees to implement strategic management best practices within the organization.