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Simran enjoys working with her team members. They get along very well. They’re good at distributing the workload and taking ownership of their individual tasks. Her team has regular meetings where everyone is briefed about the upcoming work. Simran feels included and heard when she has inputs to share. Most importantly, Simran’s team members care about each other. They help each other out and cover for each other when needed.
Not surprisingly, Simran’s team is one of the most efficient in her organization. They have excellent synergy, which helps them achieve great results.
This kind of team dynamic is an important characteristic of group cohesiveness. Group cohesiveness explains how well members of a team work together as a cohesive unit. In such teams, the members want to remain part of the group because of the healthy team dynamics. They prefer to work with each other over joining another team.
This kind of cohesion is important in organizations. Let’s explore the meaning of group cohesiveness with examples.
What Is Group Cohesiveness?
Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
Group cohesiveness defines the will of each team member to work together toward common goals. It refers to how much team members enjoy working with each other. This synergy is what brings them closer.
In a group, it’s important to rely on others and, in turn, offer help where necessary. You can’t achieve organizational goals only with individual efforts. When you combine these efforts, you can meet your goals.
Let’s look at the importance of group cohesiveness in the workplace:
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Working as a cohesive unit helps you overcome setbacks and challenges
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You can rely on your team members for support during a crisis
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You can build rapport with your coworkers and create lasting relationships
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Strong group cohesiveness makes you loyal to your team through its ups and downs
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Working in a cohesive team gives you a sense of belonging
Organizations should encourage their teams to work cohesively as it leads to improved performance, increased productivity and better results. Building trust in teams is an important aspect of group cohesiveness. It’s only when you trust your team members that you can reach out to them for help.
Examples Of Group Cohesiveness
Understanding this concept from different perspectives will help you gain insight into what it can mean for you and your team. Here are some examples of group cohesiveness in everyday life:
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Sports teams like a football or cricket team show excellent teamwork, where everyone works as one unit to win a match
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A family is considered a cohesive unit because each member focuses on the collective happiness instead of individual gains
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Your friend circle also shows group cohesiveness because everyone enjoys spending time together
The most important factor here is the absence of hostility. A well-functioning group is one where there’s trust, friendship and reliability.
Factors That Affect Group Cohesiveness
Many things can hamper team dynamics. From mistrust to conflicts, you may have to navigate your way through a host of factors that affect group cohesiveness.
Some factors that can reduce group dynamics are:
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Differences Of Opinion
You may not always agree with your coworkers’ ideas. They could have a different opinion, leading to disagreement. It’s best to listen to everyone and make a decision after taking everyone’s inputs.
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Lack Of Trust
Teams are, in essence, built on trust and interpersonal skills. If you can’t trust your teammates, you may find it hard to communicate with them. It can prevent you from sharing important information or reaching out to them for help.
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Unclear Roles And Responsibilities
When roles aren’t clearly defined, it can lead to confusion and conflicts. Work distribution should be fair and appropriate. The ideal situation is each member being assigned work that suits their skill set.
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Unresolved Conflict
At times, there will be conflict within teams. These can be arguments related to pending work or a missed deadline. If someone feels that they are being treated unfairly, they may no longer want to be part of the team.
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Problematic Leadership
Every team has a team leader, and it’s their responsibility to ensure the equitable distribution of work and fair treatment of each team member. Teams can fail if one member receives preferential treatment over others.
A team at the workplace is essentially a group of people tasked with achieving specific organizational objectives and goals. Each team member can do their bit to improve dynamics and build group cohesiveness. Start by sharing feedback, communicating clearly and building trust.
Learn more about group cohesiveness and teamwork with Harappa Education’s Managing Teamwork course. With important concepts like the GRIN–Goals, Roles, Interdependence, Norms– Framework you will learn ways to improve collaboration. Effective teamwork will help you sail through difficult times and deal with setbacks.
Explore topics such as What is the Importance of Teamwork, What is Team Building & Team Building Activities from Harappa Diaries and learn to manage teams efficiently.
