Team Conflict

Team Management                                                          

The causes for conflict among team members range from competition, manipulative individuals, bruised egos, jealousy, and blame games, unfair handling by superiors, to simply miscommunication and misunderstandings. When conflict runs high, often people react in emotional ways that can offend others and things are said that should not have been. 

Incompetent leaders have teams who turn on each other. The lack of focus invites conflict. Focus generates energy, unleashes creativity and fires urgency.

Effective and transformational leaders can even cherish the challenge of resolving conflict and take credit for a creative, productive workplace. A true leader recognizes, understands and manages conflict. Avoiding it is not an option as it will not go away and instead it will only escalate.

How to deal with it:

Recognize, understand and deal with the conflict. Never be seen as subjective or having favorites. Be seen as fair and consistent. It is time for a tough conversation. Reform or remove or make them insignificant to the team. Give team leaders a voice in forming the team. Be clear about boundaries. Know when to come down firmly and when to hold back. Effective communication and rapport building is the key.

The benefits of managing conflict effectively are higher staff morale, better staff retention, higher productivity, financial gain, healthy work environment, effective team work.

The dangers are infighting among staff, a loss of morale and loyalty to the employer, a destructive work atmosphere, anger and gossip among staff, barriers between individuals and teams, power struggle, non-co-operation. Infighting wastes time, energy and resources.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar cautions about team conflict

ஒன்றாமை ஒன்றியார் கட்படின் எஞ்ஞான்றும்

பொன்றாமை ஒன்றல் அரிது.(886)

आश्रित लोगों से निजी, यदि होता है वैर ।
सदा असंभव तो रहा, बचना नाश-बगैर ॥ (८८६)

Explanation by Scholars: 

If hatred arises among (one's) own people, it will be hardly possible (for one) to escape death.

ஒன்றி இருந்தவர்களிடையே  உட்பகை தோன்றி விடுமானால்,  அதனால் ஏற்படும் அழிவைத் தடுப்பது என்பது எந்தக்காலத்திலும் அரிதான செயலாகும்.

Lack of leadership

Team Management                       

Good leadership is a significant factor in the whole project process and project success. Project leader who is responsible for the project is someone that sets direction and influences people to follow that direction.

The project leader must be both a leader and a motivator. Successful leaders will have a more comprehensive understanding of the task at hand, be prepared to answer questions from team members and quickly be able to address fissures in the group’s cohesiveness.

Effective leaders are those who can delegate tasks and make sure that everyone on their team is learning, growing and is being challenged. 

On the other hand,

Poor project leader does not see the opportunity and does not listen to people. The lack of leadership skills will result in people getting demotivated and eventually reduce their work performance.

When a leader is satisfied with the current state of the company and group, they stop directing people forward. Poor project leaders  quickly become arrogant. They ignore the suggestions of team members due to excessive ego.

The lack of strong leadership can quickly slow a team down. If a project leader does not have a clear vision, the project will cost more and will be delayed. The project will fail in the absence of effective leadership even though there are good team members to execute the work.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

நிலைமக்கள் சால உடைத்தெனினும் தானை

தலைமக்கள் இல்வழி இல். (770)

रखने पर भी सैन्य में, अगणित स्थायी वीर ।
स्थायी वह रहता नहीं, बिन सेनापति धीर ॥ (७७०)

Explanation by Scholars

Though an army may contain a large number of best soldiers, it cannot last if it has no good general.

சிறந்த வீரர்கள் அதிகம் இருந்தாலும், படைக்கு நல்ல தலைவன் இல்லை என்றால் அந்தப்படை போரில் நிலைத்து நிற்காது.

Team Leader

Team Management                                                 

A team leader is someone who provides guidance, instruction, direction and motivation to a group of other individuals (the team) for achieving the key results.

Team leaders are critical to a team’s success and the team needs a leader to iron out the vision and mission. If a team doesn’t have a leader it may lose steam, unable to get motivated to complete a project in the necessary timeframe.

Team needs a leader to not only keep track of the completion date, but to cheer them on. Without team leader's good communication, the team become disorganized, ineffective and disinterested.

Without a leader there is no standard to follow and team integrity eventually erodes. Teams with formal leaders tend to be more efficient in making decisions.

With leaderless teams, decisions take more time since the team members work to build consensus. The leader will often know where members need to create synergy across their groups or functions.

The leader can encourage team members to bring appropriate issues to the team meeting for dialogue and input.

Effective team leaders ensure that team morale remains high and that members are motivated to perform well.

Even though the teams are great, at some point in time, a leader needs to stand up and lead.

It may be remembered that an organizational team without a leader is like a cricket team without a captain.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

முதலிலார்க ஊதிய மில்லை மதலையாஞ்

சார்பிலார்க் கில்லை நிலை. (449)

बिना मूलधन वणिक जन, पावेंगे नहिं लाभ ।
सहचर-आश्रय रहित नृप, करें न स्थिरता लाभ ॥ (४४९)

Explanation by Scholars:

There can be no gain to those who have no capital and in like manner there can be no permanence to those who are without the support of adherents.

கட்டடத்தைத் தாங்கும் தூண் போலத் தம்மைத் தாங்கி நிற்கக்கூடிய துணையில்லாதவர்களின் நிலை, முதலீடு செய்யாத வாணிபத்தில் வருவாய் இல்லாத நிலையைப் போன்றதேயாகும்.

Team Spirit

Team Management

Teamwork is a concept where people work together effectively to achieve a common target. Projects often require that people should work together to accomplish a common goal for the success.

A team understands the qualities and abilities of each member of the team and each member is encouraged to participate and give his contribution to the team.

Team spirit is the feeling of pride and loyalty that exists among the members of a team and that makes them do well and to be the best.  Team spirit plays an important role both in personal and professional life. Teams with a high spirit and strong sense of togetherness have better chances of success. For a group of people in which each member wants the group as a whole to succeed, we can expect a high degree of motivation, commitment and cooperation.

Workload is shared and individuals feel motivated to perform better. It will lead to higher team performance which manifests in the form of exceptional results and high efficiency and better satisfaction of team members.

High-spirit teams may spread out their energy and morale to other groups in their work environment and thus, have a positive influence on spirit and culture of a whole organization. Team and team work must be encouraged at workplace as it strengthens the bond among the employees and the targets can be met at a faster pace.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

சிறுமையும் செல்லாத் துனியும் வறுமையும்

இல்லாயின் வெல்லும் படை. (769)

लगातार करना घृणा, क्षय होना औ’ दैन्य ।
जिसमें ये होते नहीं, पाता जय वह सैन्य ॥ (७६९)

Explanation by Scholars

Where weakness, clinging fear and lack of spirit are not, the host (team) will gain the victory.

தான் தேய்ந்து சிறிதாகலும், மனத்தினின்று நீங்காத வெறுப்பும், நல்குரவும்
தனக்கில்லை யாயின், படை வெல்லும்.

Team Work

Team Management

Every employee is dependent on his fellow employees to work together and contribute efficiently to the organization. No employee can work alone, he has to take the help of his colleagues to accomplish the tasks efficiently.  The result comes out to be far better when employees work as a team rather than individually as every individual can contribute in his best possible way. 

Team work is essential in corporate world for better output and a better bonding among employees. The team understands the goals and is committed to attaining them.

In a team, the other team members can perform and manage the work in the absence of any member and hence work is not affected much. Team work reduces the chances of unnecessary conflicts among the employees and every individual tries his level best to support his team member. 

Team members can also gain from  each other. Every individual is different and has some qualities. One can always benefit something or the other from his team members which would help him in the long run. Team and team work must be encouraged at workplace as it strengthens the bond among the employees and the targets can be met at a faster pace.  

The team creates an environment in which people are comfortable  taking reasonable risks in communicating, advocating positions, and taking action.  Members of the team make high quality decisions together and have the support and commitment of the group to carry out the decisions made. 

The team's high performance is achieved by

• Forming (coming together),

• Storming (expressing opinions),

• Norming (working out the rules) and

• Performing (getting the job done).

Successful projects are usually the result of careful planning and the talent and collaboration of a project's team members.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

தெரிந்த இனத்தொடு தேர்ந்தெண்ணிச் செய்வார்க்கு
அரும்பொருள் யாதொன்றும் இல்.  (462)

आप्तों से कर मंत्रणा, करता स्वयं विचार ।

उस कर्मी को है नहीं, कुछ भी असाध्य कार ॥ (४६२)

Explanation by Scholars

There is nothing too difficult to (be attained by) those who, before they act, reflect well themselves, and thoroughly consider (the matter) with chosen friends.

தாம் தேர்ந்து கொண்ட நிருவாகச் சுற்றத்தோடு ஒருசெயலை ஆராய்ந்து 
திட்டமிட்டுச் செய்பவர்க்குச் செய்யமுடியாத செயல் என்று எதுவும் இல்லை.

Owning the responsibility- Team leader

Team Management

                                  

A team leader plays an important role in guiding the team members and motivating them to stay focused.

A team leader is a person who can well identify the talents and weaknesses of the team members. He can influence the other team members and utilize their abilities to overcome individual weakness.

It is unfortunate that human tendency is to shift blame on to someone as scapegoat or blaming the system/policy for our errors. If the team leaders fail to take responsibility, they will fail in their jobs, fail their teams, and fail to grow as individuals. 

Managing mistakes is like leading change management. Making mistakes is also an important part in leadership journey.

Leaders should never make fun of anyone’s mistakes, instead correct him politely. They should not play blame games or point fingers at others. A leader requires to be confident enough in his own decisions and those of his team to own them when they fail. 

Successful leaders are transparent enough with themselves and others to admit their wrong doings so that those around them can also benefit from their learnings. They take the blame but share the credit. When leaders admit their mistakes, they create an opportunity to earn respect, strengthen their teams and build a culture of trust.

Aiyan Thiruvalluvar says

பிறர்பழியும் தம்பழியும் நாணுவார் நாணுக்கு 
உறைபதி என்னும் உலகு. (1015)

लज्जित है, जो देख निज, तथा पराया दोष ।
उनको कहता है जगत, ‘यह लज्जा का कोष’ ॥ (१०१५)

Explanation by Scholars

The world regards as the abode of modesty him who fear his own and other's guilt.

தமக்கு வரும் பழிக்காக மட்டுமின்றிப் பிறர்க்கு வரும் பழிக்காகவும் வருந்தி நாணுகின்றவர், நாணம் எனும் பண்பிற்கான உறைவிடமாவார்.

குறள்

அணிஅன்றோ நாணுடைமை சான்றோர்க்கு அஃதின்றேல் 

பிணிஅன்றோ பீடு நடை. (1014)

भूषण महानुभाव का, क्या नहिं लज्जा-भाव ।
उसके बिन गंभीर गति, क्या नहिं रोग-तनाव ॥ (१०१४)

Explanation by Scholars by Scholar

Is not the modesty ornament of the noble ? Without it, their haughtiness would be a pain (to others).

நடந்த தவறு காரணமாகத் தமக்குள் வருந்துகிற நாணம் எனும் உணர்வு, பெரியவர்களுக்கு அணிகலன் ஆக விளங்கும். அந்த அணிகலன் இல்லாமல் என்னதான் பெருமிதமாக நடைபோட்டாலும், அந்த நடையை ஒரு நோய்க்கு ஒப்பானதாகவே கருத முடியும்.