As before the creation of the first civilization and after its appearance, human beings always formed and united into groups and teams. In those days, it was a crucial principle of biological survival, and now it is a significant factor in the social and psychological life of the individual. Over many millennia, necessary team and group rules have been developed that are now perceived on a subconscious level of thinking. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the mechanics of the team itself and some moments of mutual impact.
The Concept of a Team from a Structural Point of View
In any natural or human structure or type of activity, a division into roles inevitably occurs. For each team, the separation of functions and their further performance is the paramount norm. According to Barhight, Hubbard, Grassetti, and Morrow, “group roles are norms that specify the behaviors expected to be performed by individual group members” (p. 395). It is also normal to divide roles into leading ones and driven ones. The latter provides support and, to some extent, monitors the social and general psychological state of the group. These two factors have been and are vital norms of any human group in any part of the world.
Ouroboros of Influence of Team Members and Their Roles
At first glance, these roles look like a leader and a subordinate model, but in reality, they have equal weight. Researchers note that “the relationship is dynamic because changes in the group affect the individual, and changes in the individual affect the group” (Barhight, et al., 2017, p. 395). This principle of role norms equalizes not only the team and the figure, but also the participants and roles themself within the group.
Topical Question of Diversity within the Framework of Team Performance
The solution to this issue is an understanding of the cultural component of the team members and the ability to create a dialogue or find common interests. According to Ni, “…it requires managers to think in-depth for effectively utilizing the cultural diversity…” (para. 5). Diversity itself has never been a problem and, in most cases, has led to an improvement in the team atmosphere. The stumbling block has always been the initial cultural shock and possible language misunderstanding.
References
Barhight, L. R., Hubbard, J. A., Grassetti, S. N., & Morrow, M. T. (2017). Relations between actual group norms, perceived peer behavior, and bystander children’s intervention to bullying. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46(3), 394-400.
Ni, C. (2016). What is the impact of cultural diversity on team performance? Web.