INTRODUCTION

The Collins English Dictionary defines the term "soft skills" as "desirable qualities for certain

forms of employment that do not depend on acquired knowledge: they include common sense,

the ability to deal with people, and a positive flexible attitude." Soft skill is a composite

expression, and each of the two words explains a defining aspect of the concept. The word

“skill” highlights the practical function. The term alone has a broad meaning, and describes a

particular ability to complete tasks ranging from easier ones like “learning how to kick a ball” to

harder ones like “learning how to be creative." In this specific instance, the word “skill” has to be

interpreted as the ability to master hardly controlled actions. Soft skills include any skill that can

be classified as a personality trait or habit. Interpersonal skills and communication skills are

more specific categories of soft skills that many employers look for in job candidates. There are

many soft skills that you could list on your resume or cover letter. Some of the most sought after

soft skills include: • Effective communication skills • Teamwork • Dependability • Adaptability •

Conflict resolution • Flexibility • Leadership • Problem-solving • Research • Creativity • Work

ethic • Integrity. Soft skills are, therefore, a combination of people skills, social skills,

communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, mindsets, career attributes, social

intelligence and emotional intelligence quotients, among others, that enable people to navigate

their environment, work well with others, perform well, and achieve their goals with

complementing hard skills.

Teamwork is essential for the success of any project in the workplace. Working well with clients,

managers, colleagues and other business stakeholders requires you to have certain skills.

Employers prefer candidates with these skills because they maintain a strong work culture and

help the company achieve its goals.

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GOALS/OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Soft skills play an important role in resume writing, interviewing and finding success in

communicating with people at work and in other areas of your life. For example, as you look for

jobs, you may find that many employers list specific soft skills on their job posts in the ‘required’

or ‘desired’ sections. A job posting for a Human Resources associate may list ‘attention to detail’

as a desired trait, while a job for a Marketing Specialist could list ‘leadership’ and ‘great

communication skills’. Soft skills are often transferable across careers and industries. As a result,

you may find that you possess many of the required traits even if you don’t match the exact

profile in a job description. As you search for jobs, pay special attention to posts calling for

candidates with soft skills or traits you possess. Even if the job title isn’t a great fit, you may find

that the description makes sense for you. As you progress through the job search process, keep

your resume updated to reflect soft skills most relevant to the jobs you’re applying for.

A team environment allows individuals to bring their diverse perspectives to problem solving,

which in turn increases their success at arriving at solutions more efficiently and effectively. The

contributions of everyone are more valued when solicited in team meetings. The improvement in

“Group IQ” is gratifying and shows up in decisions affecting the team. When all members of a

team operate without undue hierarchy and encourage everyone’s feedback, people tend to be

more open about their ideas. If you feel a sense of safe connection with your teammates, you will

be more likely to confidently share your opinions and thoughts without fear of judgment, even

when views disagree. Research suggests that such a climate of “psychological safety” in teams

results in more engagement, creativity, and innovation.

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In simplest form, teamwork is a sense of unity along with efficient working. A group feels for

their common interests and responsibilities.

But when we delve deeper, we’ll see that teamwork brings people together. Teamwork also

makes growth easier and allows the group to overcome obstacles that would have impeded an

individual’s progress. Without teamwork efforts, none of it would be possible.

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ORIGIN/STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM/CASE

In the ever-evolving world of work, Teamwork skill has taken on a greater significance.

Companies are now prioritizing individuals with strong Teamwork abilities and for good reason.

This skill is crucial for overcoming challenges and propelling innovation and achieving success

in a dynamic and unpredictable business environment.

Many of us have experienced a failed team, if not in the workplace, in school or sports. Do you

remember loathing group projects in high school or college, worrying you’d be stuck with all the

responsibility and not trusting the others to do their part? Or maybe you’ve been on an athletic

team where factions form on what the strategy should be or who should start where. In both

examples, do you remember the focus changing from the real objective, getting a good grade or

winning the game to the drama? Your time and energy focused on looking out for yourself

instead of getting the work done and succeeding.

In the workplace, a failed team has similar consequences, but can be even more pronounced

because of the amount of time teammates spend together and the close quarters. The failure of a

team can start for a number of reasons, but the consequences are the same: factions are formed,

battle lines are drawn, communication stops and suspicion rises. Productivity and efficiency drop

off sharply and any kind of collaboration or innovation is next to impossible. The focus changes

from work to what the other group is up to and what your next move should be. The end of team

cohesion is mainly characterized by a shift from a group-oriented perspective to a self-centered

one. The goal becomes individual survival instead of group success and achievement.

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THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK/STRATEGIES APPLIED

The theoretical basis for teamwork in organizations is rooted in the understanding that working

in teams allows for the successful completion of tasks that would be difficult for individuals

alone. Teamwork enables the implementation of projects that require diverse skills and

perspectives, leading to increased effectiveness and efficiency. Various types of teams, such as

mixed, virtual, and cross-cultural teams, have been studied to understand their specific features

and dynamics. The concept of teamwork has evolved over time, with phases focused on group

work, lean production, and agile teamwork. The growth of knowledge and the capability for

coordinated action are identified as key determinants of group effectiveness.

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ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE/PROBLEM/CASE

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task

in the most effective and efficient way. This concept is seen within the greater framework of a

team, which is a group of interdependent individuals who work together towards a common goal.

Basic requirements for effective teamwork are an adequate team size. The context is important,

and team sizes can vary depending upon the objective. A team must include at least 2 or more

members, and most teams range in size from 2 to 100. Sports teams generally have fixed sizes

based upon set rules, and work teams may change in size depending upon the phase and

complexity of the objective. Teams need to be able to leverage resources to be productive (i.e.

playing fields or meeting spaces, scheduled times for planning, guidance from coaches or

supervisors, support from the organization, etc.), and clearly defined roles within the team in

order for everyone to have a clear purpose. Teamwork is present in any context where a group of

people are working together to achieve a common goal. These contexts include an industrial

organization (formal work teams), athletics (sports teams), a school (classmates working on a

project), and the healthcare system (operating room teams). In simple terms, a team is a group of

people who work together to achieve a common purpose. In the world of small business, teams

may be assembled to perform tasks such as developing a marketing plan or finding ways to

improve customer service. In reality, what makes one team effective while others are not is a bit

more complex. Effective Characteristics of Teamwork:- There are certain characteristics that a

team must have in order to work effectively. These characteristics are interrelated. It is

imperative that group cohesion is strong within the team. There is a positive relationship between

group cohesion and performance. Communication is another vital characteristic for effective

teamwork. Members must be able to effectively communicate with each other to overcome

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obstacles, resolve conflict, and avoid confusion. Communication increases cohesion.

Communication is important within teams to clearly define the teams purpose so that there is a

common goal. Having a common goal will increase cohesion because all members are striving

for the same objective and will help each other achieve their goal. Commitment is another

important characteristic for teams. It occurs when members are focused on achieving the team's

common goal. Accountability is necessary to ensure milestones are reached and that all members

are participating. Holding members accountable increases commitment within team relations.

There are many benefits or advantages of Teamwork: Working in teams has also shown to be

very beneficial. Some of these advantages include: • Problem solving: A group of people can

bring together various perspectives and combine views and opinions to rapidly and effectively

solve an issue. Due to the team's culture, each team member has a responsibility to contribute

equally and offer their unique perspective on a problem to arrive at the best possible solution.

Overall, teamwork can lead to better decisions, products, or services. The effectiveness of

teamwork depends on the following six components of collaboration among team members:

communication, coordination, balance of member contributions, mutual support, effort, and

cohesion. • Healthy competition: A healthy competition in groups can be used to motivate

individuals and help the team excel. • Developing relationships: A team that continues to work

together will eventually develop an increased level of bonding. This can help members avoid

unnecessary conflicts since they have become well acquainted with each other through

teamwork. By building strong relationships between members, team members' satisfaction with

their team increases, therefore improving both teamwork and performance. • Individual qualities:

Every team member can offer their unique knowledge and ability to help improve other team

members. Through teamwork the sharing of these qualities will allow team members to be more

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productive in the future. • Motivation: Working collaboratively can lead to increased motivation

levels within a team due to increasing accountability for individual performance. When groups

are being compared, members tend to become more ambitious to perform better. Providing

groups with a comparison standard increases their performance level thus encouraging members

to work collaboratively. Paulus describes additional benefits of teamwork: • Shared workload •

Opportunity to achieve leadership and personal satisfaction • Sense of belonging to a successful

team • Ability to accomplish more than if team members worked individually.

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FINDINGS/OBSERVATIONS

One of the most widely used team building theories is Tuckman's model, which describes four

stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, and performing. Forming is when the

team members get to know each other and the task. Storming is when the team members

experience conflicts and disagreements. Norming is when the team members resolve their

differences and establish norms and rules. Performing is when the team members work

effectively and efficiently towards their goal. To apply this theory, you need to identify which

stage your team is in and provide appropriate guidance and support. For example, in the forming

stage, you can help your team members clarify their expectations and roles. In the storming

stage, you can encourage constructive feedback and conflict resolution. In the norming stage,

you can reinforce positive behaviors and teamwork. In the performing stage, you can celebrate

achievements and foster continuous improvement.

Members of a team must be mostly active and passive during meetings and less constructive and

interactive in their engagement. Team members should be engaged in communication, team

orientation, and feedback behaviors.

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CONCLUSION

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task

in an effective and efficient way. Teamwork is seen within the framework of a team, which is a

group of interdependent individuals who work together towards a common goal. The key

characteristics of a team include a shared goal, interdependence, boundedness, stability, the

ability to manage their own work and internal process, and operate in a bigger social system.

Teamwork is definitely an essential skill. All should know how to work as a team. Team

members achieve success, collaborate and share ideas and contribute to accomplishing a

common. A healthy work environment is also an important factor. This builds trust among team

members, which eventually makes the team more productive.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Raamesh, Gopalaswamy. (2010). The ACE of Soft Skills. New Delhi, Pearson.

Mohanraj, Jayashree. (2015). Skill Sutras: Modern Communication and Ancient Wisdom.

Bangalor, Prism Books.

Cooke, N. J, & Hilton, M. L. (Eds.) (2015). Enhancing the Effectiveness of Team Science.

National Research Council, Committee on the Science of Team Science, National Academies

Press.

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 10 April,

2024.

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