Introduction

Due to the continued globalization of the workforce, many companies have work teams spanning various offices, continents and different time zones (Cardon, 2015). Therefore, globalization is almost becoming normal facet even for companies operating across borders and within the country due to cultural diversity. On the contrary to the past, it has turned into a different endeavor when running teams nowadays (Cardon, 2015). However, challenges concerning both fostering and building of teamwork have magnified (Cardon, 2015). For instance, today’s leaders and managers face such difficulties as remote team members, language barriers and cultural differences. A good team should have skills including decision-making, problem-solving skills, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, influencing and persuasive skills (Cardon, 2015). Many performing companies have mastered the art of embracing cultural diversity. This paper hereby explains why team Work Skills listed as necessary when it comes to communicating across cultures in today’s workplace

Importance of Team Communication Skills

Team communication skills are vital determinants of the success of the team effort regardless of the task assigned to the team.  Strong team communications skills help build strong relationships between team members. For instance, members from various cultures can work effectively and efficiently through the proper utilization of communication skills. Managers can distribute and assign duties smoothly throughout the whole organization as a result of communication skills.

Cohesiveness

For team effort to be effective, the members should be able to work together. The cohesiveness of the team depends on the relationships among the members, and as pointed out above, communication skills determine how strong the relationships are. There are the various stages that a team has to undergo starting from forming, storming and eventually performing. Successful teams build their relationships by effectively navigating these stages (Cardon, 2015).

Professional Development

If a team has effective communication skills, it leads to both personal and professional development (Cardon, 2015). For instance, in the Prestigio Hotel case study, if Nancy and Kip had effective communication skills, they would conclude the best action to take. When they reach the same decision, in case the same scenario arises, they would have done what is best for the Hotel. Strong communication skills also help the members to solve conflicts in a positive way (Cardon, 2015).

Why Teamwork is Important in the Workplace

Team works are not only beneficial to the organizations but also the employees involved in a team effort. Not only does teamwork make work more comfortable, but it also means an excellent opportunity for career development. Both managers and employees in an organization’s team have got to play a specific part in enhancing teamwork (Cardon, 2015).

Teamwork Increased Efficiency

When people are working as a team, they have a common goal to achieve which makes increases the efficiency of the entire work process (Cardon, 2015). For example, in case an issue arises amid the completion of a task, there are more people to try to solve the problem. Similarly, sharing of responsibilities in a team increases the speed at which tasks are completed. From a management perspective, teamwork can make it possible for an organization to create extra revenue without necessarily having to recruit more employees (Cardon, 2015).

Teamwork Increased Effectiveness

Teamwork involves each person in the team working hard to contribute to the set organizational objectives (Cardon, 2015). Therefore, each team members are engaged in streamlining each other’s work to help contribute to the attainment of the goals. By so doing, effectiveness is maintained as no room for errors is left. Efficiency is among the factors that increase a company’s financial soundness as it minimizes material wastage and time utilization.

Teamwork Enhances Idea Generation

Normally, creativity is enhanced when individuals function as a unit or group (Cardon, 2015). Combining the different viewpoints from every team member enhances effective business solutions. What an individual has gained through learning in their personal encounters is different from the fellow employees. Therefore, teamwork enables knowledge sharing and can help their fellow team members understand new expertise that shall prove beneficial throughout the rest of their career (Cardon, 2015).  Collaborating on a mission enhances an enthusiasm that lacks in working solely. Sharing of findings with the entire team motivates the workers and nurtures both team knowledge and individual knowledge (Cardon, 2015).

How Communication Skills Affect Teamwork

Communication Causes Conflict

Poor communication skills in a team will result in conflicts between the members, the reason why in the case study Nancy and Kip hold grudges (Cardon, 2015). Kip should have spoken to Nancy about the refund and get her views so that the two reason the best course of action considering that the customers were frequent users of the hotel (Cardon, 2015). If the members of a team keep on misinterpreting each other, there will always be conflict, and the team will not be able to achieve its goals (Cardon, 2015). To eliminate the possibility of a conflict, it is important that the team have a leader who controls it and issues out the different tasks to be handled by each person in the group.

Reference

Cardon, P. (2015). Business communication: Developing leaders for a networked world. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.