Introduction
Teamwork is a vital element of any successful plan. The leader sets the main directions for the movement’s work. The principles of teamwork can be seen in the examples in the film Ocean’s Eleven. The protagonist of the film, Ocean, and his colleague Rusty conduct an in-depth analysis of the possibilities and needs for the successful implementation of the plan and teamwork. The fundamental principle of the team’s functioning is the delegation of responsibilities, an evident pre-planning of actions, the selection of candidates, and the definition of their roles based on the qualities of the team members.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Team
Danny Ocean’s team cannot be called a criminal gang. They are gallant, professional, and generally make a very positive impression. One of the main strengths of the team that Ocean and Rusty put together is to set the goals and characteristics of the people to be hired right from the start. In other words, the team’s composition was selected from qualitative considerations.
Another strength is the distribution of roles and responsibilities. Delegating tasks to professionals in a particular case allowed Ocean and Rusty to create a full-fledged structure within a small team (Ocean’s Eleven). Thanks to this, avoiding clashes and conflicts between group members was possible.
The weakness of the team is that the behavior of some of its members becomes difficult to predict, which is due to the fact that Ocean instead focuses on the professional characteristics of the members of the group. In other words, some of their interests remain out of focus, which causes some changes in the plan.
Approach to Leadership
There is a scene that provides an opportunity to understand Ocean’s approach to leadership and teamwork. The discussed moment is when Rusty pretends to be an FBI agent in order to save bomber Basher from arrest (Ocean’s Eleven). Thanks to such settings, it becomes clear that each character in the team is essential, just like a gear in a common mechanism.
A machine can work with internals, and Ocean’s plan could be carried out by separating duties. Each group member will perform critical actions, even if they do not initially seem so important. The combination of simple features gives the team the ability to function as one.
Ocean’s leadership can be described as a combination of transformational and situational leadership (DuBrin 70). He makes a clear set of goals for the team and explains the tasks of each in accordance with the individual capabilities of each participant. Rusty’s entirely situational leadership style is also worth noting, as it builds behavior based on the situation and the interaction method.
Hidden Agendas
One of the team’s main weaknesses is the leader’s hidden agendas. His hidden intentions towards a woman look too emotional and destructive. Although his emotionality is not disclosed in the film’s narrative, such an attitude and the assumption of these feelings may have a negative impact on the result. Other hidden motives of the group members were not directly announced, and they did not influence the group’s actions.
Tips for Improving Efficiency and Communication in a Group
The film does not show the clash of opinions or the conflicts between the characters within the group. This situation is achieved due to the distribution of roles at the very beginning of the explanation of the plan. The recommendations that can be given are more about establishing more control over team members. The team’s best communicator is Rusty, who brings the group together.
Such characters as brothers Malloy and Basher are the least effective communicators because the absurdity of their behavior can harm overall productivity. The film generally has a friendly atmosphere between all the participants, making it possible to succeed. If I were a leader, I would suggest a more hierarchical behavior structure, which helps control the team’s actions more clearly.
The team’s problem is that it becomes hard to foresee how certain of its members will behave. This is because Ocean prefers to focus on the group members’ professional traits. To put it another way, the strategy is altered since some of their particular interests continue to be neglected. It is also worth recommending that Ocean focus more on a situational approach to leadership (similar to Rusty). Changes like this can help you better understand group members and be able to predict their actions during the planning phase.
Decision Making and Problem-Solving
In the movie, Rusty is primarily responsible for problem-solving, while Ocean is responsible for decision-making. From the point of view of Rusty’s actions, he is acting entirely rationally, trying to calculate the possible consequences of specific decision-making options. In other words, problem-solving is proficient and well-developed.
At the same time, decision-making can be improved. The only thing that can be advised to Ocean is to free himself from emotional attachment completely. The hidden intentions to return to the woman can be used against him in dangerous conditions. Decision-making should not depend on personal devotion but on the group’s total benefit.
Reflective Thinking in Film
The first stage in the development of the process of reflection in the film begins with the conclusion of Ocean. During his imprisonment, he elaborates on a plan by analyzing his past mistakes. The next step is to bring in Rusty, who can provide an outside perspective on the plan to help critically evaluate the chances of success. The next step in the reflection of the character is a meeting with his beloved, thanks to which he tries to understand his hidden motives and goals. The final stage of his reflection is a success, but the enemy on Ocean’s tail shows that the character has a long way to go.
Conclusion
The teamwork shown in Ocean’s Eleven is an excellent variation of a structured approach to planning. The basis of interaction is delegation and support. Each participant is responsible for specific tasks in which he is a specialist. No major communication problems are shown as the plan and actions are very well worked out by Ocean and Rusty.
Stricter control of the participants and getting rid of some of Ocean’s emotional bias could positively affect the team. However, there are almost no conflicts within the group because Ocean shows nobility, humanity, and sensuality. Thus, the film shows that the success of teamwork lies in precise initial planning and focus on the participants’ abilities.
Works Cited
DuBrin, Andrew. Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills. Cenegage, 2023.
Ocean’s Eleven. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2001.