The Importance of Strong and Effective Team Dynamics

by | Mar 30, 2024 | business

Previously, we explored the importance of effective communication. This week we visited the important subjects of teams, teamwork, and effective team leadership. In this assignment we want to combine our learned lessons and explore what makes for a strong and effective team and the barriers teams face as they develop while working toward reaching their goals.

Select a team you know very well. An organizational team typically operates with 4–6 members. Therefore, try to select a team that is not smaller or larger than this. The team can be a group with which you work, or it can be a group with which you are involved outside of work such as a church group, sports team, etc. You do not have to be involved with the team at the current time; just be able to recall details of your experience for analysis in this assignment.

You must refer to relevant academic concepts from the assigned reading. Research can also be supplemented from (but not solely based on) other information from academically credible resources.

Address the following:

Assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses based on assigned reading concepts/theory (including but not limited to how they make decisions, how they handle conflict, etc.).
Analyze the team dynamics including stage(s) of team development based on assigned reading concepts/theory. Research can also be supplemented from (but not solely based on) other information from academically credible resources.
Defend 1 recommendations for team performance improvement based on assigned reading concepts/theory. Research can also be supplemented from (but not solely based on) other information from academically credible resources.
Justify a leadership style which would be appropriate for this team based on assigned reading concepts/theory. Research can also be supplemented from (but not solely based on) other information from academically credible resources.
Defend a plan to facilitate a higher motivation level of team members.

Cite all sources in APA format.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

 

The Importance of Strong and Effective Team Dynamics

In any group setting, whether it be in a workplace, sports team, or community organization, the dynamics of a team play a crucial role in its success. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of a team, analyzing its development stages, recommending improvements for performance, selecting appropriate leadership styles, and fostering motivation among team members are essential components for achieving optimal team performance.

Assessing Team Strengths and Weaknesses

When evaluating a team’s strengths and weaknesses, it is essential to consider various aspects such as decision-making processes, conflict resolution strategies, communication effectiveness, and goal alignment. According to Tuckman’s stages of group development, teams go through forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning stages.

For instance, in a workplace team I was a part of, our strength lay in our ability to collaborate effectively during the norming and performing stages. We made decisions collectively, respected each other’s opinions, and communicated openly. However, one of our weaknesses was handling conflicts during the storming stage. We struggled with resolving disagreements and maintaining cohesion during challenging times.

Analyzing Team Dynamics

Understanding team dynamics involves recognizing how individuals interact within the group and how the team evolves over time. By applying concepts from academic literature on team development, such as Belbin’s Team Role Theory or Hackman’s Input-Process-Output model, one can gain insights into the team’s functioning.

In the mentioned workplace team, we exhibited characteristics of the norming and performing stages where roles were well-defined, and members worked cohesively towards common goals. Our team dynamic was positive during these phases, fostering creativity and productivity.

Recommendations for Performance Improvement

To enhance team performance, it is crucial to address weaknesses identified through assessments. Drawing from literature on organizational behavior and team effectiveness, one recommendation could be to implement regular conflict resolution training sessions. These sessions can equip team members with conflict management skills and strategies to navigate disagreements constructively.

Appropriate Leadership Style

Selecting an appropriate leadership style is paramount for guiding a team towards success. Based on theories such as Situational Leadership by Hersey and Blanchard or Transformational Leadership by Bass, adapting leadership approaches to the team’s development stage is vital.

For the workplace team described, a democratic leadership style might be appropriate. This style encourages participation in decision-making processes while still providing guidance. It would align with our collaborative nature during the norming and performing stages.

Facilitating Higher Motivation Levels

Increasing motivation among team members is essential for maintaining engagement and productivity. Applying motivational theories like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs or Expectancy Theory by Vroom can offer insights into motivating factors.

To boost motivation within the workplace team, a plan could involve setting clear and challenging goals, providing regular feedback and recognition, fostering a supportive team culture, and offering opportunities for skill development and growth.

In conclusion, understanding team dynamics, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, implementing performance improvement strategies, selecting appropriate leadership styles, and enhancing motivation levels are crucial components for fostering strong and effective teams. By integrating theoretical concepts with practical applications, teams can navigate challenges effectively and achieve their goals successfully.

 

 

 

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