LEADERSHIP & TEAMS
Prepared by:
Nirosha Jayasuriya
Student ID: NG/OTHM/10/42
Objectives:
• The Concept of Teams and Team Leadership
• Importance of Teams and Team Leadership in
Organizational Performance
• Workgroups and Teams
• Leader’s Role in Workgroups and Teams
• Formal vs. Informal Groups
• Stages of Groups and Team Development
• Role of Leadership in maximizing Group and Team
performance
• Conclusions
• List of Figures and Tables
• List of References
The Concept of Teams and Team Leadership:
What is a team?
A team can be defined as “a group of people who interact
and influence each other for the achievement of a common
purpose” (Sujan, 2023) Team members are mutually
accountable.
Team can make products, provide services, negotiate deals,
coordinate projects, offer advice and make decisions.
(Robbins and Judge, 2013)
Teams are always stress free. Figure out solutions are more
practical and reliable comparing to sole work. (Think
Marketing, 2020)
The Concept of Teams and Team Leadership: Contd.
What are the types of teams?
Robbins and Judge (2013) are mentioned 4 types of teams.
Figure 1: Types of Teams
The Concept of Teams and Team Leadership: Contd.
Types of teams:
1. Problem Solving Teams
A group of different people that come together and work
on specific a project related to resolving the problem in
that project. (Chegg, 2023)
2. Self-Managed Teams
A group of employees within an organization who share
the responsibility of planning and executing their work,
without the supervision of a manager. (Tsuei, 2022)
The Concept of Teams and Team Leadership: Contd.
Types of teams:
1. Cross-functional Teams
A group of people from various departments in an
organization such as marketing, product development,
quality assurance, sales and finance who work together
to achieve a common goal. (Organ and Bottorff, 2022)
2. Virtual Teams
A group of colleagues who collaborate remotely via
platforms like Zoom, MS-Teams, Social Media etc. instead
of gathering in an office. (teambuilding.com, 2022)
The Concept of Teams and Team Leadership: Contd.
What is Team Leadership?
It is the management of a group of people brought together
to work to achieve a common goal. Here, leader is the key
factor in inspiring and motivating his followers. (Cyprus,
2023)
Well thought out working relationship of a leader is very
much important in building a strong team.
Importance of Teams and Team Leadership in
Organizational Performance:
How Teams affect in organizational performance?
• Enables better problem solving: Combination of others’
skills and knowledge creates practical and useful solutions
• Unlocks potential for innovation: Diversity unlocks new
opportunities, overcomes new challenges and gains new
insights
• Lowers the risk of burnout: Providing emotional & physical
support to share the load
•Boosts productivity: Sharing effort gives more results
(Middleton, 2023)
Importance of Teams and Team Leadership in
Organizational Performance: Contd.
How Teams affect in organizational performance?
•Allows for smarter risk-taking: No fear of failures due to the
support of team
•Yields fewer mistakes: Less stress in working together so
less mistakes
•Expands creativity: Gathering of different people creates
innovative ideas (Middleton, 2023)
Even though the input is same to a sole worker and to a
team of workers, output will definitely be different as
collective effort is greater than the sole effort.
Importance of Teams and Team Leadership in
Organizational Performance: Contd.
How Team Leadership affect in organizational
performance?
•Providing guidance to staff: Act as bridge between owners
of the business and followers.
•Building team morale: Create environment of cooperation
•Fostering an atmosphere of creativity: Offer flexibility to
determine the methods used to complete the tasks
•Promoting essential values: Unique traits can serve as a
role model for team members
(Joseph, 2019)
Workgroups Vs. Teams:
What is a workgroup?
When two or more individuals are classed together either by
the organization or out of social needs, it is known as a
group. No joint effort required from the members of group.
But a team is the collection of people, who are linked
together to achieve a common objective.
(Surbhi, 2023)
As per Herrity (2022), members in a group creates separate
work to judge separately by the seniors whereas team
members creates a single, collective work that seniors assess
in its entirety.
Workgroups Vs. Teams: Contd.
Comparison of Workgroups Vs. Teams
Surbhi (2023) is given a comprehensive comparison between
workgroups and Teams.
Basis for
Group Team
Comparison
Leadership Only one leader More than one
Members Independent Interdependent
Process Discuss, Decide and Delegate Discuss, Decide and Do
Work Products Individual Collective
Accomplishing individual
Focus on goals Accomplishing team goals
Either individually or
Accountability Individually
mutually
Table 1: Comparison of Workgroups Vs. Teams
Leader’s Role in Workgroups and Teams:
• Group leader judges individual work separately, but team
leader can assess work as entirety. (Herrity, 2022)
•A one leader is there in a group, but there can be more
leaders in a team (Surbhi, 2023)
•Team leaders typically manage a single team within a larger
organization. Group leaders work with multiple teams to
oversee an entire project. (CLIMB, 2022)
•Group leaders provide guidance and support to team
leaders and ensure that all teams are working towards the
same goal. (CLIMB, 2022)
Formal vs. Informal Groups:
Groups can be divided into two groups as formal groups and
informal groups.
Formal Groups:
Formed within organization as per official authority in order
to fulfill the desired objectives.
Informal Groups:
Formed within wider society by the employees as per their
interests and attitudes.
(Surbhi, 2018)
Formal vs. Informal Groups: Contd.
Comparison of Formal vs. Informal Groups
Surbhi (2018) is given a comprehensive comparison between workgroups
and Teams.
Basis for
Comparison Formal Group Informal Group
Formation Deliberately Voluntarily
Size Large Comparatively small
Depends on the type of
Life Depends on the members
group
Structure Well defined Ill Defined
Importance is
given to Position Person
Relationship Professional Personal
Moves in a defined Stretches in all the
Communication direction directions
Table 2: Comparison of Formal Vs. Informal Groups
Formal vs. Informal Groups: Contd.
Sub-groups under Formal and Informal Groups:
Formal Groups Informal Groups
Command Groups Task Groups Interest Groups Friendship Groups
Groups Groups have been Groups of people Groups of people
determined by the brought together who band together who have come
organization’s to complete a task. to attain a specific together because
hierarchal chart objective with they share
and composed of which each common ideas,
the individuals that member is common interests
report to a concerned. or other
particular similarities like age
manager. or ethnic
background.
Table 3: Sub-groups under Forma and Informal Groups
(lumen, n.d.)
Stages of Groups and Team Development:
As per Tuckman’s stages of group development, following are
the stages of group and team development:-
Figure 2: Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development (Admin, 2018)
Stages of Groups and Team Development: Contd.
Forming: The Initial stage. Putting the structure of the team together. Team
members feel ambiguous so they look for directions and guidance.
Storming: Occur interpersonal conflicts due to the process of organizing
tasks. Leadership, power and structural issues dominate.
Norming: Create new ways of doing and being together. Team leader can
be assigned (shared leadership). Members learn to trust each other to be
effective for shared leadership.
Performing: Stage of group development. Flexible as adapt to meet the
needs of other members. Highly productive stage personally and
professionally.
Adjourning: Ready to leave (course termination). Members experience
change and transition. Time to manage feelings of termination and
transition.
(West Chester University, 2022)
Role of Leadership in maximizing Group and Team
Performance:
In order to discuss the leader’s role in maximizing groups
and teams performance, John Adair’s Action-Centered
Leadership model can be used. It represents the task, the
team and the individual. (British Library, 2023)
Figure 3: John Adair’s
Action-Centered
Leadership Model
Role of Leadership in maximizing Group and Team
Performance: Contd.
The areas represented by three interlocking circles are as
follows:-
Task: The actions that take to achieve a goal.
Team: Actions at the group level to encourage effective
teamwork and group cohesion.
Individual: Actions that address each team member’s
unique needs.
(MindTools, 2023)
Role of Leadership in maximizing Group and Team
Performance: Contd.
In order to fulfill three aspects of leadership (task, team and
individual) as per Adair, there are 8 common functions that
must be performed and developed by a leader in maximizing
group and team performance.
•Defining the task •Evaluating
•Planning •Motivating
•Briefing •Organizing
•Controlling •Setting an example
(British Library, 2023)
Conclusions:
Teamwork and leadership have a direct impact on the ability
for an organization to carry out its mission. Leaders require to
make sure that the team is going in the right direction and
working towards the same goal. So, good leaders provide a
clear vision always to their team as they know it is the path to
the infinite success of the organization.
Good leadership enhances team performance and an effective
team enhances organizational performance which leads to the
competitive advantage of the organization.
List of Tables & Figures:
List of Figures:
Figure 1 Types of Teams
Figure 2 Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development
Figure 3 John Adair’s Action-Centered Leadership Model
List of Tables:
Table 1 Comparison of Workgroups Vs. Teams
Table 2 Comparison of Formal Vs. Informal Groups
Table 3 Sub-groups under Forma and Informal Groups
List of References:
1. Admin, 2018. Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development [online] Available
at:
Tuckman’s stages of group development | NS4B - Net Solution For Busine
ss (ns4business.com.br)
[Accessed 25 July 2023]
2. British Library, 2023. John Adair [online] Available at:
John Adair: Action-centred leadership thinker | The British Library (bl.uk)
[Accessed 25 July 2023]
3. Chegg, 2023. Problem-Solving Team [online] Available at:
Learn About Problem-Solving Teams | Chegg.com [Accessed 24 July
2023]
4. CLIMB, 2022. Group Leader vs. Team Leader: What are the differences?
[online] Available at:
Group Leader vs. Team Leader: What Are the Differences? - CLIMB (climb
theladder.com)
[Accessed 25 July 2023]
List of References: Contd.
6. Herrity, J., 2022. Group vs. Team: What’s the difference? (Plus an
example) [online] Available at:
Group vs. Team: What's the Difference? (Plus an Example) | Indeed.com
[Accessed 25 July 2023]
7. Joseph, C., 2019. Importance of a Leader in a Team [online] Available at:
Importance of a Leader In a Team (chron.com) [Accessed 24 July 2023]
8. lumen, n.d. Types of Groups [online] Available at:
Types of Groups | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations (lumenle
arning.com)
[Accessed 25 July 2023]
9. Middleton, T., 2023. The importance of teamwork (as proven by science)
[online] Available at: The importance of teamwork - Work Life by
Atlassian [Accessed 25 July 2023]
10. MindTools, 2023. Action Centered Leadership [online] Available at:
Action Centered Leadership™ - The Three Circles Model: Balancing Task, T
List of References: Contd.
11. Organ, C. and Bottorff, C., 2022. What are Cross-functional Teams?
Everything you need to know [online] Available at:
What Are Cross Functional Teams? – Forbes Advisor [Accessed 24 July 2023]
12. Robbins, S., P. and Judge T., A., 2013. Organizational Behavior. 5th ed.
Boston: Pearson Education
13. Sujan, 2023. What is a Team? Definition, Features, Types and Strategies to
manage [online] Available at:
What Is Team? Definition, Features, Types, & Strategies - Tyonote [Accessed
24 July 2023]
14. Surbhi, S., 2018. Difference between Formal and Informal Groups [online]
Available at:
Difference Between Formal and Informal Groups (with Comparison Chart) -
Key Differences
[Accessed 25 July 2023]
15. Surbhi, S., 2023. Difference between Group and Team [online] Available at:
Difference Between Group and Team (with Examples, Similarities and Comp
List of References: Contd.
16. Teambuilding.com, 2022. Virtual Teams: Definition, Examples & Best
Practices for 2023 [online] Available at:
Virtual Teams: Definition, Examples & Best Practices for 2023 (teambuilding.
com)
[Accessed 24 July 2023]
17. Think Marketing, 2020. Working in a Team Vs Working Alone: Which is
better? [online] Available at:
Working in a Team Vs Working Alone: Which Is Better? (thinkmarketingmaga
zine.com)
[Accessed 24 July 2023]
18. Tsuei, J., 2022. Self-managed teams: Tips for balancing autonomy with
teamwork [online] Available at:
Self Managed Teams: High Performance with Autonomy | Clockwise (getcloc
kwise.com)
[Accessed 24 July 2023]
19. West Chester University, 2022. Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development
[online] Available at: Tuckman's
