What does it mean to be equal partners in a team? I'd like to demonstrate that it is high improbable to achieve equal teamwork, while equity in teamwork is more achievable. I'd cover the few points:
- What does true equality in team work mean
- Why is it very hard to have true equality in team work
- How is equity in team work a more sustainable perspective and its implications
To be equal in team work means:
- All parties have equal capabilities
- All parties have equal experiences
- All parties have equal resources at their disposal, e.g. money, energy, time, network
- All parties have equal values e.g. have the same beliefs about what should and should not be done
- All parties wants exactly the same outcome
- All parties are given tasks that are equal in difficulty
- All parties are judged by stakeholders in the same way
- All parties enjoy the same reward, benefits, and perks
It is very hard to be equal in team work because:
- Everyone is different in their capabilities, experiences, available resources, values, desired outcome.
- The same task may be easy for one party but difficult for another.
- Each party is judged by stakeholders differently, even if they might be doing the same thing. For example, A speaks forcefully and is perceived to be assertive. B speaks equally forcefully but is perceived to be aggressive.
- What is a valuable reward or benefit to a team member may not be worth much to another. E.g. if A craves applause and fame, A will see a public recognition as a reward. The same reward, given to a introverted and shy B, will not be worth much.
If it is agreeable that to achieve true equality in team work is very hard, let's look at an alternative, which is to be equitable in team work. I'll discuss on what being equitable in team work means and its implications:
- Since everyone is different in capabilities, some are more suited to certain jobs. E.g. A team member who is more personable should handle customer service. A team member who is more detail oriented should handle stock taking. Implication: To be equitable means getting the right person to do the right job.
- Since everyone is different in experiences, some will have better ideas and insights than others. Implication: To be equitable means giving the right weightage to each member’s input in decision making.
- Since everyone has different available resources, they contribute to the team’s goal in different ways. They perform different functions, like different organs of the body. The same resource may cost a great deal to one member but does not even mean anything to another. E.g. to a well-connected but very busy member, attending a 3 hour meeting can be very hard, but opening doors for the team through a phone call can be easy. A member who is a student or a retiree might face the opposite.To be equitable means to value the best resource that each member brings to the table and not to demand that everybody brings the same thing.
- Since everyone has different values, some might feel more enthusiastic while some might be reserved while working in the team. Even if all are equally passionate, they might show their passion in different ways. E.g. One might show passion by raving to his friends about his work, the other might show passion by being on time for work everytime.To be equitable means to accept that some will like and some will dislike what the team is doing. That is okay.
- Since everyone has different challenges in completing the same task, some need more time and effort to do what another does easily. To be equitable means to acknowledge and appreciate the effort, not just the outcome.
- Everyone value rewards and benefits differently. To be equitable means not assuming that everyone wants the same reward. It means that each member must answer the question of "what is in it for me?" And other team members should know about it.
