An effective team is a team whose members understand each other, the team objective and goals and are willing to act in line with the codes established by the team and respect for the team leader.
Stages of Team Development and Their Significance
Meeting
The team should be notified to meet physically as soon as possible in the early stage ( Watkins , 2013). This arrangement is important to allow team members to meet and build a rapport with each other through the understanding of each other’s skills ( Watkins , 2013). This meeting allows the team members to organize.
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Clarification of Tasks, Processes, Goals, and Roles
At this stage, the team leader organizes the team assigning roles and sub-teams to work at a specific time on particular projects ( Watkins , 2013). The team leader defines the process and conducts a periodical assessment of the progress ( Watkins , 2013). The design of the tasks, process, goals, and roles should be simplified due to the technicality presented by an inability to meet or share a common location. This will ensure objectivity among team members.
Communication Charter
A virtual team faces a major challenge of holding a face to face communication ( Watkins , 2013). Since communications are done online, strict procedures should be set to define the manner, mode and times of communication and specifying the environment and turn-taking to be observed during a conversation to ensure that the team understands what when and when to act.
Communication Technologies
The technology chosen for communication should be simple and reliable to allow the members to communicate easily at the specified times ( Watkins , 2013).
Team Rhythm
Coordination of time zones and social life of the employees in different regions is very significant. A coordination rhythm should be established to ensure that there are no conflicts during the meetings between employees at different time zones ( Watkins , 2013). The whole program should flow smoothly through timely meetings and communications.
Language
Language is the basis of communication. With the ambiguity resulting from various cultural applications of languages, people may misunderstand each other in a conversation in which they thought they were sharing a common language. Scientific and engineering languages are listed as some of the languages that may help to lower ambiguity with exception of scenarios involving brainstorming to offer solutions ( Watkins , 2013). A wise choice of language to be used will save the group burdens resulting from misunderstandings and misinterpretations
“ Virtual Water Cooler”
“ Virtual water cooler” refers to approaches taken to increase group bonding through familiarizing with each other’s progress and challenges through an open communication before the official start of the meeting ( Watkins , 2013). This procedure improves group cohesion.
Commitments
Assessment of members’ commitment to fulfilling intermediate goals is a major challenge facing Virtual teamwork ( Watkins , 2013). Creation of a chat dashboard and frequent verifications of team progress without micromanaging will improve members’ commitment to the group’s performance.
Shared Leadership
Shared leadership plays a major role in pulling the team together ( Watkins , 2013). This is achieved through delegation of management duties as opposed to micromanagement that pushes the team away from its leader.
One to One Performance Management
This is the assessment and improvement of the team's performance through frequent interactions with each member ( Watkins , 2013). It is beneficial in ensuring that the team members’ skills are up to date.
Methods of Establishing Collaboration, Innovation, and Communication
Collaboration
Collaboration in a teamwork can be achieved through an understanding of each other’s potential and the team goals and limits.
Communication
Communication can be achieved through frequent meetings, agreement on a common language, communication etiquette, and choice of communication tools that are reliable and understandable by all.
Innovation
Team innovativeness can be achieved through brainstorming and encouragement of open-mindedness in trying new techniques and approaches. The environment should be flexible rather than domineering and suppressive to enable innovativeness.
References
Watkins . D. M., (2013). Retrieved from Making Virtual Teams Work: Ten Basic Principles
