Module 2 - Work in A Team Environment
Module 2 - Work in A Team Environment
MODULE DESCRIPTOR : This module covers the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to
relate in a work based environment.
QUALIFICATION LEVEL : NC II
Clarify Roles
Knowing everyone’s role and being familiar with the responsibility of those roles create
efficiency and flexibility. Ideas for clarifying roles on the team include:
Review team members’ roles frequently.
Relate team member expectations to the team’s overall purpose.
Clarify responsibilities when action planning.
Learn what others do on the team.
Figure out ways to help each other.
Setting aside time to really evaluate what you do and how that impacts (or not) the company you
work for is important to understanding the value you and your role have with that organization.
Are you a key player on your team? If not, does the role provide opportunities for you to advance
toward this?
After fully understanding your current role, value within your company, and its possible
benefits and setbacks for your future, it’s time to take action. So many people become
complacent in their careers and on the job.
If after evaluating your overall situation you discover that it’s actually beneficial to step out of
your current role—step out of it. Don’t be afraid to follow after what your heart truly desires.
Identifying these skills helps a team perform effectively. This is otherwise known as team
synergy through a coordinated effort of performing these abilities. Diversities even in skills and
talents are common. But sharing these skills for the benefit of the team can build a solid work
relationship among the individuals.
For a relationship to become healthy, learn to appreciate each other’s talents. Being recognized
by fellow colleagues for the effort contributed for the team is heartwarming and rewarding.
Typically, in a work setting, every working individual belongs to a team where a group of
members work together with similar functions and work description, though not necessarily
similar in interests.
Also, individuals in a team generate a collaborative effort to achieve common goals, and may
need to give up individual autonomy in order to attain those goals. The organization as a whole
can make up a team and this component is by far the largest to be called as such.
If you are paired up with another work colleague on a project, you are already called a team.
Regardless of the population of the members and diversities in a team, building a relationship is
a crucially important factor grounded on teamwork.
Team members who develop a common strategy in working such as using a discussion in the
interaction process or assigning tasks are manifesting teamwork. Individuals work together by
sharing individual objectives and eventually come up with a unified goal.
Being a part of a team also entails commitment in the job and the responsibility. In order for a
team to be harmonious, a good working relationship has to be established.
DESCRIBE WORK AS A TEAM MEMBER
Be an Effective Team Member
Working on teams can be rewarding, but at times it can be difficult and downright frustrating. If
there are poor communicators on your team, you may often feel left in the dark, confused or
misunderstood. To create a successful team, effective communication methods are necessary for
both team members and leaders.
Get Involved
Share suggestions, ideas, solutions and proposals with your team members. Take the time to
help your fellow teammates, no matter the request. You can guarantee there will be a time in the
future when you’ll need some help or advice. And if you’ve helped them in past, they’ll be
more than happy to lend a helping hand.
No Bragging
It’s one thing to rejoice in your successes with the group, but don’t act like a superstar. Doing
this will make others regret your personal successes and may create tension within the group.
You don’t have to brag to let people know you’ve done a good job, people will already know.
Have faith that people will recognize when good work is being done and that they’ll let you
know how well you’re doing. Your response? Something like “Thanks, that means a lot.” is
enough.
If it is determined that a group decision is the preferred option, some simple guidelines for the
decision making process can help as follows;
Develop a clear understanding of the problem and the need for a decision
Develop a clear understanding of the requirements for an effective choice
Thoroughly and accurately assess all the positive qualities of alternative solutions
Thoroughly and accurately assess all the negative qualities of alternative solutions
Although group decision making can be effective, it can also have disadvantages such as;
Social pressure. The pressure to conform to the group can have adverse effects on the
creativity of the individual group member.
Domination by a vocal few. Group members may be ignored and outspoken by members
who speak the loudest and longest.
Goal displacement. The primary objective of making a sound decision may be affected
by a member’s personal considerations such as winning an argument, or getting back at
another group member.
Groupthink. Groupthink occurs when group members try to minimise conflict and want
to remain within the comfort zone of the group’s consensus thinking. Creativity and
independent thinking are usually the first things to be sacrificed, resulting in poor quality
decisions.