How Teamwork Can Hurt

In most organization, having good teamwork or working in team is commonly stated in their core values or values' statement. Many businesses become successful because of good teamwork.

So what exactly is teamwork? Wikipedia defined:

"Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a team to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way".

True! We do not operate in silos in the modern world. Every single work is interconnected to someone's. (e.g. the help-desk lady who receives a call from a client and to activate the technical team.)

If everyone is professionally hired and does its own role adequately, the common goal can still be fulfilled without direct form of collaboration. Take for example: A front-desk assistant performs registration duties, a nurse prepares all the necessary stuff, a doctor who does his professional work and finally the pharmacy staff who dispenses medication. Can we argue to say that in fact they are working independently without any direct form of teamwork, yet the common goal is still achievable? - Patients getting the treatment they need and leaving the clinic satisfied?

So what exactly is the key message of teamwork? A team that can work together well? People who help each other? Cohesive members within a team that go the extra mile for each other without expecting anything for return? Sound good, especially if you need to manage a team. Nobody likes a calculative staff anyway.

So how can teamwork hurt? When people who often give help are taken for granted while those who received help are not appreciative and make it a habit - eventually a free-loader. And when frustrated givers share their concern, they became calculative people who do not have teamwork. How hurting!

Leaders or managers who lead a team must instill the correct mindset and behavior in his people that any favor done within a team remains a privilege from one to another person. Otherwise, such unhealthy teamwork can eventually break a team’s relationship. A free-loader continues to felt privileged and the givers, who are actually the better ones, leave with frustration.

No, don't get me wrong. I advocate and appreciate teamwork in both my personal and professional life. However as a leader or manager, have we made clear to everyone on the purpose behind the team? Have we make it easier or tougher for teamwork to happen?

Ken is a human resource professional who values learning and enjoy working with people from all walks of life. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Management & Human Resource Management) from Curtin University of Technology and has 14 years of experience in HR. He is an introvert by nature, who loves reading and writing.