Most dictionaries define teamwork as 'a cooperative effort of a group of individuals acting together as a whole, or team, in the interest of a common cause, or to achieve a common goal.'
But what does this mean? Teamwork consists of two or more people working together in order to achieve a goal. Each member of the team contributes their personal skills, ideas and opinions towards the one common goal.
Although individual members are by no means unimportant, personal aspirations are put aside and the objective of the team is put first.
For teamwork to be effective, all contributions must be harmonized and coordinated. Each team member is assigned the part of the project for which he or she is most suitable.
If a project is to be well planned, everyone needs to know what they need to achieve and when it has to be done.
Sometimes teamwork requires everyone to do the same thing at the same time. This is the case in a rowing team, for instance.
To achieve the best possible results, efforts have to be synchronised, i.e. The rowing blades have to be moved in and out of the water at the same time to achieve maximum thrust.
In a working environment and other team sports, teamwork usually consists of people with different skills working together.
Here a plan on how to best achieve the end goal is discussed and work is divided according to skills. For instance, a group of people has been assigned with the task of designing and creating a dress for a fashion show.
The most imaginative member of the team, who can also draw, designs the outfit. The second person, an experienced pattern maker, transfers the design and cuts the material.
A sewing machinist is ready to sew the parts together and another adds finishing touches, such as sequins, beads or embroidery, etc.
Again, efforts have to be harmonised, usually by the application of a time frame.
Problems or alterations to the plan need to be discussed, giving the team an opportunity to find ways of working around the problem.
But what does this mean? Teamwork consists of two or more people working together in order to achieve a goal. Each member of the team contributes their personal skills, ideas and opinions towards the one common goal.
Although individual members are by no means unimportant, personal aspirations are put aside and the objective of the team is put first.
For teamwork to be effective, all contributions must be harmonized and coordinated. Each team member is assigned the part of the project for which he or she is most suitable.
If a project is to be well planned, everyone needs to know what they need to achieve and when it has to be done.
Sometimes teamwork requires everyone to do the same thing at the same time. This is the case in a rowing team, for instance.
To achieve the best possible results, efforts have to be synchronised, i.e. The rowing blades have to be moved in and out of the water at the same time to achieve maximum thrust.
In a working environment and other team sports, teamwork usually consists of people with different skills working together.
Here a plan on how to best achieve the end goal is discussed and work is divided according to skills. For instance, a group of people has been assigned with the task of designing and creating a dress for a fashion show.
The most imaginative member of the team, who can also draw, designs the outfit. The second person, an experienced pattern maker, transfers the design and cuts the material.
A sewing machinist is ready to sew the parts together and another adds finishing touches, such as sequins, beads or embroidery, etc.
Again, efforts have to be harmonised, usually by the application of a time frame.
Problems or alterations to the plan need to be discussed, giving the team an opportunity to find ways of working around the problem.