Introduction
Cohesion has been attributed to high levels of performance everywhere, be it in sports, research, competitions, projects and the likes. When a group of individuals pursuing a common goal come together, they need to entrench team cohesion so as to purposefully overcome any obstacles that may arise during the project. It is quite important to ensure that their interaction is closely monitored and supported to help them in bonding. Every institution expects exceptional performance in the project assigned to groups, they invest a lot of cash in such projects, but what they rarely know is the fact that cohesion is essential to those teams’ performances. This paper will therefore explore team cohesion, what makes it, as well as what, which does not make team cohesion (Green 1).
Team Cohesion in a project environment
Team cohesion refers to the ability of a group to remain together or united throughout the process of pursuing their goals. Every successful team requires cohesion to achieve its goals and improve its work ethics. A divided team cannot achieve its objectives and goals. Every team is therefore required to ensure that its members are working together with a common purpose. Cohesion is two-dimensional; one dimension looks to track its ability to do things together while the other dimension checks on its social ability. In the social dimension, the team takes a close look at each individual member’s ability to integrate well with others. When both the two dimensions are healthy, then every course of a project works well. Cohesion is therefore very instrumental to a team as it provides the framework for better organization and management. The condition of a Project environment is very dependent on relationships between individuals. Mistrusts and conflicts are very detrimental to team cohesion (Green 1).
To enhance team cohesion, groups should work towards opening sustainable communication channels; it is through such channels that team building can thrive. Teams that develop general organizational culture find it easy to work for a common purpose. Team cohesion is aimed at ensuring each individual has a free will to share his opinions with the rest of his/her team. After bonding, the team needs to stay together to avoid fragmentation. When objectives are laid out, it is important to impart motivation in the team, this will help them work towards the objectives. Division of labor is very important in determining how to share responsibilities in a project. When the project environment is accommodating, most activities get the required attention; this should be maintained to achieve sustainable growth in team cohesion (Green 1).
What makes Team Cohesion?
Team cohesion is very vital in ensuring the objectives of the project are achieved. It is for this reason that leadership in a project environment becomes of great importance. Several theories and concepts have come up with ways of developing team cohesion. Among these is the crew concept, which provides five essential issues in team cohesion. They include proximity, similarity, team structure, objectives as well as distinctiveness. Proximity to each other is very important in promoting social interaction, which would, in turn, improve team cohesion. Every individual in a team is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring he/she completes the assigned task successfully, to reach the overall group objective. It is also important for the team to feel similar in every way that relates to work ethics, commitment, attitude and aspirations, among others (Garner 1).
The objectives of the team are supposed to be concise and clear to all the members in a project environment. Rewards should also be based on group works, as this will improve team cohesion. Distinctiveness is also crucial for a team; this makes them feel attached to one another thereby developing team cohesion. Team cohesion is dynamic and changes with time, one method used today may not be used in the future. To make sure that cohesion is maintained within the team, open communication should be maintained to encourage further interactions between the members. In addition, it would be of essence to seek input in decision-making and especially when addressing conflict between members. This has the potential to damage the work already done in strengthening cohesion (Green 1).
Setting realistic goals is also a factor of great importance to the team; this will help their confidence to achieve realizable goals. Having a common expectation is very essential to their motivation and ability to push through even in tough times. Acknowledging each individual’s contribution towards project development is very important in enhancing individual commitment as well as motivation; those assigned senior responsibilities should feel like the other member, as this will improve togetherness. It is very important to have meetings in which conflicts are resolved as well as opportunity given to air their grievances (Green 1).
What breaks team Cohesion?
Handling team cohesion is very important to a team working on a project. Many factors can impede development of cohesion in a team. These include, having different expectations, which results in different behaviors and attitudes. Dictatorship is a factor that destroys team cohesion; individuals are subjected to fear that is not good for project environment. Setting of unrealistic goals has the potential of demoralizing group members. This is because it demands the impossible from individuals, and can draw each member apart, thereby disintegrating team cohesion (Garner 1).
Individual based rewards and isolation of other members by forming smaller social groups has the capacity to destroy the hard-earned team cohesion. The management must continue supporting cohesion in the team since this can also destroy team bonding when there comes preferential or disconnection from management. Singling individuals for praise in a team is very tricky as this can also lead to breakdown in team cohesion. Team cohesion requires input in terms of cost and resources therefore, provision of limited or inadequate resources leads to scarcity and preference in sharing the little, this can break team cohesion. Lack of focus on the objectives of the team can also lead to disintegration of team cohesion (Article Outlook 1).
Summary
As has been discussed in the paper, cohesion is very important for every institution that works with a group. Cohesion provides the motivation, strive, confidence, distinctiveness and the ability to pursue realistic goals place before a team. It is in this spirit that Cohesion calls for better handling and management. Cohesion in a working environment requires different handling skills as cohesion in a sports environment. Even in sports, handling cohesion in athletics may differ from that of football. It is therefore very important that a group is well managed taking into consideration, the dynamic nature of cohesion (Article Outlook 1).
Conclusion
Cohesion is important and can help in making project environment conducive for team bonding. Management should also endeavor to support team cohesion to ensure its continuity.
Works Cited
ArticleOutlook. “What is Team Cohesion?” Article Outlook. 2011. Web.
Garner, Eric. “Team Cohesion: The Glue That Sticks”. CSM. 2009. Web.
Green, Michael. “Team Cohesion in Sport”. Sport Training Blog. 2011. Web.