C205 Task 1
.docx
School
Western Governors University**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
MANAGEMENT C205
Subject
Communications
Date
Dec 21, 2024
Pages
4
Uploaded by MateDiscovery7797
A.1.
There are many factors to consider when creating a team; however, I feel that communication, expectations, and skills are three factors that highly impact a team. Communication is essential when building teams. If the team cannot communicate, then they will not function properly. Comparing a team to the different parts of a computer, if any piece (or team member) is not communicating correctly, it could causeit to not work to its potential or even fail. It's crucial to set how the team will communicate and how often they will and foster good, clear, precise communication amongst the team. Picking team members whose skill sets complement each other is also essential when choosing a team. Comparing a team to building a house, having 2 plumbers and no electricians will not complete a home. You want team members whose skills complement each other. This also will help build trust amongst the team, as they will rely on each other to complete tasks. I also feel you need to set clear expectations. For example, establish clear project milestones and deadlines, define acceptable levels of individual performance, and outline expected communication response times. If you don't set a completion date, the project may take longer than required; therefore, we set when we expect it to be completed. I feel setting expectations with behavior, communication, and deadlines is a great way to hold team members accountable. A.2.There are many ways for a team to build trust, but in my opinion, clear communication, accountability, and transparency are three pillars to building that trust. Having clear, consistent communication with all team members helps build trust, knowing all team members are treated consistently and working together toward the same goals. For instance, if a team leader openly shares information about project challenges and seeks input from all members, it fosters a sense of transparency and inclusivity, strengthening trust within the team. Holding your team members accountable also helps build trust, ensuring your team knows when they are falling short, making mistakes, or need to be brought back in line with the rest of the team. Where it's not always easy to hold your team accountable, fair and honest accountability builds trust. Being transparent is also a key to your team trusting you and each other. Communicating incorrect facts, or not all the details, to everyone is notbeing transparent and fosters doubt. That's one of the quickest ways to foster mistrust.A.3.
The first thing that comes to mind when considering team effectiveness is the oldphrase "too many chiefs and not enough Indians." That is a clear example of a poorly structured team. Having a clear structure is as important as setting expectations and clear communication. As a team leader, establishing clear roles and responsibilities will reduce overlap and help minimize confusion and noise amongst the team. Setting a clear structure within smaller teams is easier, but it's imperative with larger teams. Structure helps manage not only who the team members report to but also the channels of communication within the team. For example, a hierarchical structure with a transparent chain of command can be efficient for large teams. In contrast, a flatter structure might encourage collaboration and innovation in smaller, more agile teams. A.4.One way to clarify the purpose is by clear communication. If you're unclear in communicating the purpose, the team may not be working in the same direction. Another way to clarify the intent is to ensure the team's goal aligns with the company's vision or mission. For example, if a company's mission is to sell cheap, healthy fruit, then if a team oversees purchasing expensive exotic fruit, this goes against the mission.The fruit may be healthy but not cheap following the mission. Another effective strategy is to conduct a team-building workshop where members collaboratively develop a team charter, outlining their shared goals, values, and working agreements. A.5.Every individual in a team contributes to the success of the team. Some team members contribute skills, and some team members, known as informal leaders, have power and influence over others. Having the power to influence the team has many benefits, such as inspiring, motivating, building consensus amongst the team, fostering collaboration, providing guidance, and championing innovation or change, to name a few. An informal leader might motivate their team by publicly acknowledging individualcontributions, celebrating successes, and offering encouragement during challenging times.A.6. Having a team that's diverse in skills is an excellent start to building a team. Being able to capitalize on your team members for their specialties greatly assists the outcome of the team. For example, when negotiating a contract with a vendor, you
would want your best-skilled negotiator to take the lead, offering the best outcome, instead of someone with no negotiating skills. Tailoring your project leads to your strengths, such as having someone who excels at research lead the information-gathering phase, which helps increase efficiency, productivity, and quality of work, to name a few positive attributes. This could involve recognizing someone's ability to analyze complex data, another person's talent for visual design, or someone else's knack for conflict resolution and assigning roles that utilize these strengths. A.7. Technology has affected teams in various ways, both positive and challenging ways. One way technology has affected communication is by offering a variety of tools and enhanced collaboration tools. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet are only a few ways that made it easier for teams to meet and communicate when physically separated. This allowed teams to be further apart but still come together to speak as if they were in a room. Collaborative software such as Google Workspace and project management software such as Monday.com have helped teams better function, track project progress, collaborate on documents, and manage tasks seamlessly across the project and team. Where these platforms can help foster better communication, they also provide challenges. Not having a stable internet connection can significantly disrupt a virtual team, causing no communication, double work, or even missed deadlines. If the software being used fails, the team's productivity could be affected. There are pros and cons to technology within communication in virtual teams, but if managed well, then the pro's greatly outweigh the con's. To mitigate these challenges, virtual teams can establish clear communication protocols, utilize video conferencing forface-to-face interaction, and incorporate project management tools that provide transparency and track progress.