Working in a team on a field project in Peru- 2008
Teamwork. I have many friends who dislike working in teams. They dread it. Most of them are in arts courses and write long papers. I admire them and the amount of effort and energy that they put into their work. I know that they are good at what they do based on the conversations we have had. So I asked, why does working in teams bother them so much? Well for one, they aren’t used to it. Of course it takes practice. Every team is different and the feelings and outcomes are different. Sometimes it makes an assignment feel much more manageable. Having so many heads working on one project allow for different interpretations, perceptions and solutions. There are many benefits to having creative and various approaches. However, this can also be a major point of challenge if a consensus cannot be reached. This relates to the major difficulty for my artsy friends. They said the thing that they found most problematic was the process of sharing or collaborating on ideas. When I heard this I thought—they aren’t the only ones. This component can be the most challenging but also rewarding process.
In the article by Tom Kelly, I found his approach of assuming theatrical/professional roles when analyzing or working with an idea to be refreshingly honest and valuable. This multiperceptive and dynamic “cast” stems from the narrowly and often limiting role of the Devil’s Advocate. Kelly ardently believes that the devil’s advocate has a deep hamper on creativity and idea generation. It is true that sometimes the pragmatics and pessimism of subsuming that role can prevent innovative ideas from surfacing. Sometimes you have to go wide, beyond the scope of what ‘s real and return to find something meaningful to work with.
Team dynamics I find in a team it is nice when there is one facilitator/leader. The role of the leader is critical though. It should not lead to any power imbalances, but rather a “maintainer” of equality in ideas, work levels and responsibility. This person should be conscientious of every member’s ability and link their skills to their task. This role doesn’t need to be occupied by one person solely; I have seen the case where two people share this role. However I do feel like it is essential to have someone who can bring everyone together.
My experience thus far working in teams is challenging and also rewarding. I do enjoy working with other people. There is nothing more blissful than working with people who share the same vision as you, have similar working styles and great communication abilities. It feels like your team can do anything. It feels somewhat like you’re in a superhero crew. (Ok, maybe not that cool). However, not all teams are that easy. Especially when you are put in a team where you don’t know each other. It takes establishing and figuring out norms, clear objective, communication styles, and personality types all the while being respectful. It’s a balance. My team specifically had a difficult start, but we then talked about it. Established what we thought was important and got everyone on the same page. Of course, it’s a work in progress. People are still negotiating of much work, effort they want to put in and still maintain a cohesive group dynamic.