How To Improve Team Dynamics
In the medium to large software development, most of the time, we work in teams. We can say that when our team performs well, our projects will also outshine the other; however, if our team lacks team dynamics, it would be a huge problem. So, what is team dynamics? Why do we need it? How do we improve it?
What Is Team Dynamics?
A team is a group of two people or more where they are focusing on the same goal by helping each other to achieve it; it could last a few minutes to years. According to Deakinco., team dynamics are the unconscious, psychological factors that affect the direction of a team’s performance and behavior
Why Do We Need It?
A team is built for one reason, to complete things that are impossible to do alone. Team dynamics play a huge role when it comes to group performance. As has been stated before, team dynamics influenced a group’s performance and behavior. Lack of team dynamics could affect us greatly, starting from weak leadership, free riding members, complicates things, and the most frustrating part for me is that it will affect our performance greatly even though we have tried our best.
How Do We Improve Team Dynamics?
It is always recommended to start strong rather than have to improve things later in the end. If your team lacks team dynamics from the start, there is still hope, here’s how:
Get To Know Your Team
If you don’t know your teammates, it is guaranteed that you won’t be able to work comfortably with them. Getting to know who you are working with doesn’t only make you comfortable to work with them, you can also acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses and use them to your advantage; their strengths could compensate other teammates’ weaknesses vice versa. Getting to know your team doesn’t always mean just talking during breaks, ask them to hang out with you as well, it would make a huge difference.
Always Listen To Others
When we are working with a team, every member has the right to get their voice heard. It will be a problem for team dynamics when one or more members of the team are afraid to express their opinion or suggestion because they are scared to be criticized. If you have teammates whose opinion differs from you, you have to appreciate their voice by trying to see the good in their opinion; their opinion could be the answer that you have been looking for.
Never Hide Your Problems
Problems are inevitable in this life. If we have problems that bother your project with your team, you must talk to them immediately to address them. The longer you wait it out, the bigger the problem will be and it will have a huge impact on your team dynamics. Telling your team your problems could be a blessing if you do it; if not, it could solve your problems faster, you never know what is inside their mind or whether they have encountered the same problems or not.
In Clicks
Our developing team is a compact team that consists of different types of people. The most important thing to build a solid team is to get off in the right foot. We met in college but we have bonded after the group have been formed. We bonded by meeting up face-to-face when we are working our project. We also get to know each other deeper by eating together.
When we encounter a problem, we always solve everything together by discussing what to do about it rather than blaming others. This is a key to a successful project, always find a way out together.
Our technical individual specialties also plays a huge role in our project. We have an experienced back-end engineer, front-end engineer, and product designer in our team. By having such, we can accomplish everything quickly because we have inputs from out teammates who are experienced and well-versed in the needed area.
Aside from technical specialties, our team consists of people who have different personalities. Those diversity is what makes our team have a non-monotonic team dynamic. The level of emotion control in our team also plays a huge role in keeping the team dynamic in check. We always know how to act in a certain situation without having to create a drama.
Conclusions
Working in a team is a huge advantage if we are able to get the most out of it. The most important factor when working in teams is to keep the dynamics up. Every team dynamic is different; think of it as songs, everyone loves dancing in a certain rhythm. If your team doesn’t have good team dynamics, it is guaranteed that your team is not going to end up well.
