Have you ever wondered how a group is able to gel so well and work together to achieve a common goal? What is it that brings certain people together and forms a group?
In my opinion, a group is a collection of individuals who interact and work together based on similar interests. Over time, these individuals will work together towards a common goal.
The Vancouver Winter Olympics that is taking place during this period holds numerous apt illustrations of group communications and the importance of it. Team events like ice hockey, speed skating and ski jumping are all examples that paint the dynamics of a group and the importance of group communication.
How are teams formed? What made these individuals form a group and participate in the Olympics? Though it may be true that the formations of the teams are out of their control as it is based on talent (i.e. only the best of the best are chosen to form a team and take part in the Olympics), undoubtedly, the individuals in each team share similar interest and passion towards the same sport. For example, individuals in the ice hockey team obviously share a passion for ice hockey and by being selected to represent their country in the Winter Olympics, they are now working as one towards a common goal, which is to earn a medal and do their country proud.
With similar interest/passion and a common goal, how do these individuals develop their relationship and at the same time, achieve their goal? Members of the group must be able to juggle 2 roles – task and maintenance roles, in order for the group to work well.
Take the amazing Austrian ski jump men’s team for example who recently won gold for the Olympics ski jump team event. How did they achieve this amazing feat?
Wolfgang Loitzl, Andreas Kofler, Thomas Morgenstern and Gregor Schlierenzauer made up this team that did their country proud and pushed
The oldest in the group, Loitzl took on the role of a leader and an encourager, pushing the team forward during trainings. Whenever someone in the group feels like giving up, Loitzl will be the one to encourage them to look up and stay positive.
Kofler, one of the pioneers in the group is the one that coordinates sessions together. Being one of the ski jumpers with a good record, the rest respects him and will usually follow him.
Morgenstern is the most experienced and well respected member in the group despite his young age. Having won a lot of competitions in both team and individual event, Morgenstern is the person that the members look up to for advice to improve on their skills. As the saying goes, age is but a number and in this case, experience is valued more.
The youngest, Schlierenzauer (aka my favourite), is the group’s rising star. With 32 World Cup victories under his belt, he is seen as the one who will eventually top the charts. As all groups, the youngest are usually the ones who gels the group with their weird antics. Schlierenzauer is responsible for maintaining the group’s energy.
Despite the roles that they have, every one of them contributes to the social development of the group. Strong relationship within the group is important as it makes achieving the common less of a burden. Each knows that every one is there for each other and this acts as a reinforcement that everything will proceed smoothly if they just believe in each other.
" ...a group is a collection of individuals who interact and work together based on similar interests."
ReplyDeleteNot only do groups work well due to similar interest, they also work well together if they identify and recognize a common goal to work towards.
There are times when group communication utterly breaks down even if there is a similar interest amongst the members. Knowing what to work towards in terms of task and sharing proper communication works well to fuel the group to think together, even though it may not be alike.
To think together and work together towards a common task, to me, is definitely one way to improve on group interaction and communication.
Group communication is definitely important in the success of the team. The ultimate aim of forming a group is to achieve their goal. As for the Austrian, it is the goal medal. Roles within the group is important for maintaining the harmony of the group. Gatekeeper of the group can also serve a vital role on keeping their focus on track to achieve their goal.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, sometimes I feel that in a group, it is not always good to be with your friends. This is because we are very aware of who our friends are, their weaknesses and their strengths. As such, it gives us opportunity to exploit them. (For lack of a better word...) However, of course, this works both ways. If we know our group members well enough, we will be able to allocate work according to everyone's strengths and whatnot.
ReplyDeleteI think having a common goal is the most important thing in a group. Social communication needs to be fostered along the way. We cannot always want to be grouped with people that we are comfortable with. We need to be able to adapt, be flexible and understanding. In places like school, we tend to always group with our close friends. However, when we go out into the working world, this won't always happen. We might be forced to work with people we don't like, or are unable to communicate well with. We just need to make do, and try to improve the situation.
I feel that if the group has a strong sense of what they want and need to do, they will achieve it regardless.
There is a clear definition between a group and a team.
ReplyDeleteA team can be and is a group. But a group is not necessarily a team.
A group comprises of any Tom, Dick, and Harry. Basically, a group can be formed by randomly selecting a few people. However, they need not necessarily hold the same ideas or motivation to achieve a certain goal.
On the other hand, a team is a group of people with similar interests and willing to commit to achieve the goal. A team takes time to mould and as mentioned above, requires a long yet worthwhile process with communication forming a critical role.
Group communication is a determining factor in any team effort. However a group that work towards a common goal, may not shared the same method in achieving that goal. What drives them is the goal, the end product. That is also the basis for the cause of conflicts in groups - the lacked of shared method for the common goal.
ReplyDeleteDespite that, this lack is what makes group work interesting. It defeats the purpose of a group working towards a common goal with everyone having the same thought process and the same idea. This will reduce the amount of new ideas generated and the choice for a better quality of work.
Heh the first thing I thought about when I read this was NS. Having experienced group working mechanics on an operational level, I've come to the conclusion that the best team is formed from members who are not friends.
ReplyDeleteWhy so? When working with strangers, you will be less forgiving of people's faults, since they are not friends and you will probably be less compassionate towards them. This freedom from "friendship bias" allows a more accurate assessment of abilities, which would help when the time to allocate tasks comes round.
A determination to get the job done regardless of personal issues would also cement the focus of the group. A no-tolerance approach to excuses and general weakness is necessary. While it seems to be the noble thing to seem understanding and caring, usually the unscupulous would capitalise on this to get off doing less work. Hence the advantage of not being friends in the first place is obvious here.
What is absolutely vital in ensuring success is a leader with an iron will and a thick skin.
for speed skating relays especially, it is fascinating to see the fluid exchange of person in the rink
ReplyDeleteto achieve such seamless transition from a team member to another takes alot of faith in each other.
the teams that are able to show this seamless transitions are the ones who managed to achieve that displayed, in my opinion, a cohesive work environment
I think this can be applied to most teams since most team works towards a common goal. Be it a bunch of soldiers attempting to assassinate an evil dictator or a football team attempting to reclaim the european trophy. If the team has a goal but everyone decides to function as an individual instead of unit they might be able to complete but they would definitely encounter plenty of problems.
ReplyDelete옴모!we supported the same team! and I really do love them! <3
ReplyDeleteObviously, in anything, group communication is important. Not just in groups but communication per se, is vital to proceed on in life.
With common goal, the team is obviously able to work towards it and their brotherly bond is just an added bonus for them to work efficiently.
Fun groups aside, I believe that work groups work well with strangers as its members. Imagine working with your friends do complete a project. I doubt you'll get it done efficiently since friends+friends=play.
Why you follow all these things, I seriously have no idea.
ReplyDeleteMyself, I hate working in groups cos it's really just a hassle. You have to take time to meet up with the others and such and I feel that's all just a waste of time. Yes, group communication is important but why waste time when you can use that time meeting up to actually do something useful?
Only social groups are important to me cos really you do need people to hang out with. Unlike others though, I'm really quite close to my work friends but that's not for work but social friends.
It's up to the person I guess to judge whether group is important or not.
I do watch the Winter Olympics and I agree with you that group communications is important in order to achieve their goals successfully.
ReplyDeleteSeeing how you continuously have to go out and meet your group members for projects, I must say, the relationship track of the group must also progress as lack of it will lead unsatisfactory performance of the group as there's no balance. As you've heard you must have a balance between work and play and it applies to group communication as well!
A successful group communication normally leads to a predicted and foreseen success. If this bond of theirs work well, what is impossible? =) I think this kind of teamwork really pulls off for the games. Good post!
ReplyDeletedude-ette! i haven't talked to you for the longes time! how have you been?
ReplyDeleteyou should have been at the slopes man! the jumps were epic awesome!
group sports are challenging to play. like Harry says, its really a hassle, when i wanna play, i prefer to focus on my own performance so i know to what extent my performance is. if i succeed its cos of me. if i fail, its all on me.
less of a headache dealing with all the emotions and feelings group games invovle
i'm with Tristan dude
ReplyDeletefor sports at least, its easier to determine my strengths and weakness in solo games. that way i can attack what i lack.
but say for businesses or projects, i kinda get why group dynamics are important. they balance what i lack when working towards say a presentation or new business venture
@Tristan and Vincent
ReplyDeleteyou guys! its been ages! 8D
see with what you both said, its no wonder you both suck at team sports!hahhha
i think that in a group or team, we are able to complement each other. that is how a group supposed to be