Problem: Consider a scenario presented in The New York Times article on Project Aristotle and Team Success (Blass, 2017). Imagine you have been invited to join one of the two groups:
Examine the team environment of the two groups and answer the following questions:
Team A:
Team A is composed of people who are all exceptionally smart and successful. Here the professionals wait until a topic arises in which they are experts, then speak at length, explaining what the group should do. When someone makes a side comment, the speaker stops, reminds everyone of the agenda, and pushes the meeting back on track.
Team B:
It's evenly divided between successful executives and middle managers with few professional accomplishments. Teammates jump in and out of discussions. People interject and complete one another's thoughts. When a team member abruptly changes the topic, the rest of the group follows him off the agenda.
If you were given a choice between the serious-minded Team A or the free-flowing Team B, which team would you join and why?
Draw a table to list the teamwork skills and competencies exhibited by each team. Which team demonstrates stronger knowledge and skills needed to perform effectively within a team environment? Explain why you think so.
If you were to lead the team you have joined, what other teamwork competencies would you want to instill in your team members? Why do you think these are critical to building your perfect team? Substantiate your answer with evidence from the findings of Project Aristotle and learning's this week.