Communicating in Work Teams
Introduction
Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages so that there is a common understanding and shared meaning between the sender and the receiver. It is a very important skill in many fields of the life. One of these fields is the work teams or group working. Communication in work teams require some special skills especially in dealing with some factors like conflict, conformity, and consensus that usually cause problems in such type.
A team is a group of individuals who depend on one another to achieve a common objective. Teams are often better to individual because they can have more information and also accomplish more creative work. It always known that the group's total output exceeds the sum of each individual's contribution. So, teams can accomplish more and better quality work in less time than individuals can if the teams function properly.
On the other hand, teams can waste time, accomplish little work, and create an environment in which interpersonal conflicts can rage and cause many disadvantages. In addition, anyone who has ever worked in a group knows that some members usually avoid individual responsibility in a group setting.
Two to seven members seems to be the most appropriate size range for most effective work teams. Small-team research indicates that five is an ideal size for many effective work teams. Smaller teams often do not have enough diversity of skills and interests to function effectively as a team, whereas larger teams may la ...