Home Page
Management and Team Competencies/Conditions
A supportive team climate does not emerge naturally. It requires that management and team members commit to certain conditions and develop specific competencies that will encourage and support connection and interdependence. These include:
1. Creative Tension
In order for teams to take advantage of differing perspectives, opinions, and approaches, the team climate should be characterized by what is called "creative tension."
This involves an environment where differing points of view are accepted and members feel comfortable and safe in contributing their ideas.
Input from all members is encouraged and honesty is a norm that is supported-even when that honesty means that others' views are questioned. On the other hand, unwarranted criticism is not a characteristic of creative tension.
2. Challenge
Supportive climates for teamwork are those that present the task in a challenging manner. This may involve an urgent deadline, a perplexing problem to solve, or just a change from the routine way of approaching the task.
3. Collaboration
This involves the ability to pull together and work collaboratively on a difficult task. It involves a certain "surrendering" of the ego in order to set aside one's own personal interests in favor of those of the group. It is a competency that is essential to interdependence and effective team functioning.
4. Freedom
Management must be willing to grant the team freedom from micromanagement, excessive surveillance, or other forms of intrusive evaluation. Freedom also involves the autonomy to determine how work is scheduled and accomplished.
5. Supportiveness
Management and team members can greatly increase team effectiveness by encouraging and empowering the group to take initiative. It should resist the temptation to rely on the status quo, but instead urge the team to discover new methods and solutions.
6. Resources
The willingness of individual team members and the organization to commit sufficient resources is essential. Resources can include time, effort, information, technology, funds, and manpower.
Assignment
SUPPORTIVE TEA
Assignment Overview
On the home page of this module, six different management and team competencies/conditions were described. In this case, you will reflect on how these competencies/conditions act either alone or with others, to create task and interpersonal connection.
Case Assignment
Read the following article:
A. T., Alsever, J., Hempel, J., & Roberts, D. (2014). The New Teamwork. Fortune, 169(6), 78-82.
You can find this article in the TUI library, in EBSCO, Business Source Complete database.
Then address the following:
• Discuss how each competency and condition leads to either task and/or personal connection by contributing to goal clarity, loyalty, trust, or information sharing.
• Explain your reasons with reference to the background materials and examples from the case reading or other research if needed.