Value of Teamwork Essay -- Service Teams

As with all of life, there are two basic approaches to business: First, one can decide to set out on his own to make his fortune and second one can develop and build a team to get the job done. There is a simple, yet powerful, acronym to help one remember the importance of teamwork; (TEAM) Together Everyone Achieves More. There are those who, in this age of bureaucracy and â€Å"red tape,† might feel as though being part of a group means giving up control of their projects – leaving them feeling a little like they would have been better off without team membership. Inevitably, however, one comes to the realization that he cannot survive alone as â€Å"no man is an island.† These individuals soon are left to consider that the concept of a team effort producing exponential results has led to farmers yoking together â€Å"teams† of oxen and horses, has led to ever increasing amounts of â€Å"horsepower† in mechanical engines, and so is nothing new. Wit h the idea of being able to take on otherwise insurmountable tasks, there is definitely something to be said about the pride of accomplishment that can only come through the efforts of teamwork. While the general concept of teams and teamwork remain unchanged, the purpose and makeup of teams has changed, rather than a group of employees in a room getting together the 21st century teams are becoming more frequently geographically dispersed teams (GDT) that are required to work from very diverse locations within the country and even around the globe (Sole & Edmondson, 2002). Of course, as with any team or organization intent on actually accomplishing anything there needs to be a map or direction, this is usually found in the Mission and Vision statements†¦ but then even if you are on the right track, the tr... ...y. When these values, norms and guidelines are followed, the team will become an efficient and successful one. The process may be slow in the beginning, but once the team understands and cooperates with each other, anything can be achieved. Every team member should become committed to the success of the team and not worry about individual pain or difficulties. If these norms and guidelines are put into practice, any amount of work becomes an easy task. â€Å"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.† – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12.