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WORKING WITHIN A TEAM—TRICKY!
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
There are leaders who inspire individuals to shine forth with their own skills and talents, and of course there
are leaders whose inspirational style motivates individuals to work together as a team. Working in a highly-
diverse working environment can easily put one ill at ease because of the apparent and not-so-apparent
differences present in every member. However, great leaders are able to encourage every member to work
towards a common goal without leaving anybody behind in the process. The objective may be a little blurry at
the onset, but with the whole team working together, everything becomes more enjoyable, less tedious, and
clearer in perspective.
Working within a team where bloated egos can easily get burst or feelings readily hurt is not easy. It takes a
delicate balancing act to concretize each other’s strengths and synchronize all ideas into one cohesive whole.
An effective leader is consistently able to harness the abilities of everyone within the team and bring about a
harmonious exchange of concepts, perspectives and general and specific ideas in order to realize tangible
outcomes.
Working within a team where every individual is prepared to set aside all manner of differences and see the
commonness that lies within the uniqueness takes a humble leader to get everyone involved. In a manner of
speaking, the team leader is the central axle that either fixes the wheel in position or by which the wheel
rotates. If the axle itself gets impaired, the whole configuration may not function as it is supposed to.
Working within a team entails that team members are aware of the team’s objectives, whether short term or
long term, easily achieved or requiring further work. They should know where the group has been, is, and will
eventually be. Unless everyone in the group has a clear vision of the team’s progress and what else needs to be
done, milestones can easily be overlooked and achievements might appear too hazy to be so. In effective team
work, successes and accomplishments are given recognition in order to encourage members to contribute
more and jointly, since it is those very achievements which spell final success.
In great teamwork, self-identity of every member becomes so enmeshed with the team’s identity that it can be
difficult to tell where the “I” ends and the “WE” begins. Every team member is ready to play his part with
utmost intelligence, skill and personal ability because the individual is the team and the team is the individual.
No selfishness, only a selfless sense of character that’s ready to look out for the other as an essential member
of the group.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Why is it difficult to work within a team?
2.
How would you help each team member optimize their talents in a team if you were the leader?
3.
How can a team be unified? Cite specific ways.
4.
Why is it important for organizations to have team building activities regularly?
5.
What qualities do you possess that you believe can be optimized in a team-based environment?