(1) The strengths and weaknesses of the team in terms of the skills needed to perform the tasks of the team
The strength of the team in terms of skills is the ability to conduct investigation in the most immediate time and satisfactory result possible. Also, the team has a communal sharing of roles and responsibilities and development of new skills to improve the team’s performance is at hand. Rather than looking to a leader to define the goal and approach, teams identify and reach consensus on their common goal and approach. Most importantly, teams hold their members accountable. In the field in which I work, management function especially organizing and coordinating is necessary. It is unfortunate to affirm that this is what is lacking to some of the members of the team. Thus, this is one of our weaknesses – lack of management skills expertise. Among others, our team is also overloaded with various tasks to do that often result to miscommunication, misunderstanding, and stress.
(2) Strategies to address any weaknesses
There are numerous strategies that could be considered to address these weaknesses. In terms of management functions, the combination of theory and practice is the most elementary solution. There is a need to refresh, reorient, and reposition the knowledge of team members in relation to the managerial functions needed in the job. Providing a seminar-workshop among members is essential. Since the team is involved in transactions particularly on clients, every team member is expected to possess excellent organizing and coordinating skills with other members in order to avoid mistakes such us inconsistencies and duplication in records, time delay, and other management errors. Team roles are high in terms of customer orientation and commitment to provide satisfactory service. Also, such team roles are directed to effective team balance and increased team productivity.
In work load issues, task management through systematic allocation of task or division of labor is the most appropriate solution. There should be designation of things to be done. The team leader is responsible to the fair distribution of tasks. With good scheduling of tasks, stress is lessened and cases of miscommunication and misunderstanding are minimized. Also, time management is recommended. In managing time and achieving objectives, the team must always see to it that they maintain a schedule which indicates the lists of activities to be done with particular allocation of time. All activities to be done are directed to the achievement of the desired goal. However, there are times wherein constraints are present. Among this are unpredictable changes brought about by lack of resources (e.g. financial or human resources) and the flexibility of the plan itself.
For issues of miscommunication and misunderstanding, the best strategy to implement is the idea of open communication. The team can work together in building an effective team by means of effective application and management of communication. To ensure effective communication within the workplace, there is a need to increase the knowledge and understanding of team members in terms of verbal, non-verbal, and symbolic communication concepts and new changes. Listening must also be developed. It must be done actively rather than passively. In relation to conflict, communication focuses on what is right rather than who is right. Most importantly, there is a need to maintain constant open and two-way communication process. Team members are motivated to work if there is democracy within the working environment and its people involved.
(3) Communication within the group
The communication within the group is not systematic particularly among the team members. This is evident due to the presence of communication-related problems like instructions not given to the right person, inability to understand instructions or not knowing what to do due to lack of knowledge and skill, and the likes. Thus, the above suggested strategies will help to improve the communication process within the group.
The poor effects of communication in the workplace can result to internal conflicts and poor organizational productivity. When difficulties in communications occur, there are immediate effects in the operations of the team. For instance, in dealing with instructions from clients or upper management authorities, when a member of the team commit a miscommunication mistake, the effects are not just confined to the internal but also to external operations of the whole team. It may destroy customer as well as employee relationship.
The role of communication among teams is very important because it serves as the doorway to enhanced relationship and practically the cultivation of teamwork. Communication plays its role in the direction, coordination, and control of tasks and activities. It deals with the what, when, and how of the process. Consequently, communication serves as the pathway through which suggestions and insights that would generate change and new ideas. It also keeps and preserves values and relationships necessary to keep the system of the organization collectively.
(4) Evaluation of the team’s performance in respect to the goals of the team
The team is on the right track in respect to the achievement of its goals. All tasks are done. But it is aptly recognized that the team’s overall performance is not equivalent to what is expected. The presence of management difficulties, work-related mistakes, and human errors are the evidences showing that there is indeed a missing link or something wrong with the team. It is apparent that all members are working towards consensus vision and goals. But with the previously identified problems or weaknesses, the overall performance is affected.
To solve these, it is recommended that the team leader must evaluate options and specify priorities. The suggested strategies above are also proven effective by many experts. Utilizing such does not mean total elimination of management problems, but these will help to minimize potential risks, damages, and harm. The eventual success of the team especially in providing service and its overall exercise of its expected performance relies mainly on the ability to cope up with the demands of the job and its clientele. Continuous learning and development – both professionally and personally must be inculcated to the mind of each team members. Lastly, the knowledge of the latest innovations that will make the tasks easier must be continuously upgraded and propagated. With these, improvement and progression is not far at hand.
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