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INDIVIDUAL VS. TEAM WORK
1|Page Performing as an Individual as well as Being a Team Player It is often thought that people perform better when in a team as opposed to when they function as individuals. This belief however is not entirely true. In some cases, team work brings down performance because a number of factors influence task achievement when people are asked to work together. The first thing that affects performance of individuals when they work together is that a lot of time is spent in socializing. Ideally, when trying to accomplish a task, one may indulge in interacting with others as well, however, when working in a team it can be seen that there is more play and less work. Furthermore, every team has a certain amount of internal politics going on which tends to affect the flow of work. In attempt of being the leader of the group, individuals often waste time on tasks that do not hold much importance but will make them look good. There are many benefits of working in a team. It has been seen that teamwork keeps people motivated. Additionally, team members are able to help and assist one another, which reduces the time it takes to overcome obstacles. Teams are often able to come up with more creative ideas because brainstorming in a group yields better results. However people often find it stifling to express them self in a group as they feel that their ideas are frequently criticized and shunned without due consideration. Performing as an individual requires twice as much confidence, because team players often defend one another and cover each others’ mistakes. An individual has to stand up for himself and ensure that he covers all bases himself, because nobody would be there to assist him in completing tasks before the deadline. Not everyone has the ability to be a team player, and some people are more comfortable working on their own. The opposite is true as well. In order to be a valuable resource to an organization, one must be able to work equally well in both circumstances. It is quite essential to be able to perform without assistance and support. At the same time, it is necessary to be a team player and gel in well with others. An individual who is capable of producing results when working on his own, as well as when working with others is an effective employee and will prove to be a good manager in the long run.
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INDIVIDUAL VS. TEAM WORK