I love teamwork, especially sports. But to be honest, whenever I’m at a workshop and the facilitator asks the participants to get in a group, my inner self groans. Yet I don’t let this stop me from setting group tasks for my students! Why? Because I know that we learn better in social situations. And I know that the strong students will learn more from explaining things to the weaker students. And I know that the output of the whole should be greater than the sum of the parts. But clearly these things aren’t enough to create the enjoyable learning experience that’s intended.
So I know why it's good to work in a group, and these same benefits apply to teams. But what’s the difference?
While out cycling the other day (when I do my best thinking) I had a bit of a light bulb moment. It comes down to the cliché – there’s no I in team. Ok, so it may appear there’s not one in group either, but I’d like to propose that it’s an insidious invisible I.
A team has a common purpose or cause that they all buy into, and this creates cohesion. Team members join together to reach a goal that they chose. Conversely, I think that a group is still just a bunch of individuals. A group may have one or more of the following critical differences:
- Purpose or goal is not identified;
- Members didn’t choose the purpose or goal;
- Members don’t believe in the purpose or goal
The other thing that I think benefits teamwork is the appeal to competitive natures. When we are competitive, we are striving to achieve our best. When we are at our best, naturally it’s more enjoyable.
But what’s the ‘so what factor’ for me? I want to optimise the level of learning and enjoyment that my students or workshop participants experience. Subconsciously I think that I incorporate many of the good aspects of ‘team’ in the activities I set. But I can certainly do more. And I'm going to remember these points and test out my theory next time I create a team activity.
So I know why it's good to work in a group, and these same benefits apply to teams. But what’s the difference?
While out cycling the other day (when I do my best thinking) I had a bit of a light bulb moment. It comes down to the cliché – there’s no I in team. Ok, so it may appear there’s not one in group either, but I’d like to propose that it’s an insidious invisible I.
A team has a common purpose or cause that they all buy into, and this creates cohesion. Team members join together to reach a goal that they chose. Conversely, I think that a group is still just a bunch of individuals. A group may have one or more of the following critical differences:
- Purpose or goal is not identified;
- Members didn’t choose the purpose or goal;
- Members don’t believe in the purpose or goal
The other thing that I think benefits teamwork is the appeal to competitive natures. When we are competitive, we are striving to achieve our best. When we are at our best, naturally it’s more enjoyable.
But what’s the ‘so what factor’ for me? I want to optimise the level of learning and enjoyment that my students or workshop participants experience. Subconsciously I think that I incorporate many of the good aspects of ‘team’ in the activities I set. But I can certainly do more. And I'm going to remember these points and test out my theory next time I create a team activity.
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