Managing Groups

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Managing Groups

We hear about it all the time. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork! Ever since our grammar school days we have been put into teams and expected to create a product of some kind. In first grade, my teacher assembled the students into "pods" – four desks pushed together to build small teams. Even at that young age, group dynamics were evident. As the students grew older the storming phase issues transitioned from, "Mrs. Hardy, Darryl wiped a booger on my desk," to high school basketball practice and, "Coach, Darryl isn't passing the ball and it is causing us to lose games." Whatever the age and in whatever field we have chosen to work in, we are most certainly going to be part of a group. Therefore, it is important to understand group dynamics in order to increase the efficiency of our groups. This paper will summarize an article about teamwork as well as identify what kind of characteristics would be essential to each member of a team.

THE ARTICLE

In an article titled, "Kelsey-Seybold team follows pace of leader / Management chief breaks down walls with words," by Mary Sit-DuVall of the Houston Chronicle, illustrates an example of effective teamwork at Kelsey-Seybold Management Services (KSMS) and Kelsey-Seybold Medical Group (KSMG). The article focuses on two individuals, the CEO of KSMS – Valerie Bergeron, and the chairman of the board of KSMG – Dr. Spencer Berthelsen, although more the previous than the latter.

Bergeron, who is the first female and also the first African-American to hold her position, focuses on people rather than bottom lines. According to Bergeron, "If you have the ability to communicate very enthusiastically, create opportunities for personal and professional growth and a sense of teamwork in not only what you say to them, but how you participate in the organization – your level of commitment of projects, your level of commitment to support – then people within the organization will want to work closer with you." (Sit-DuVall, 2004) This quote from Bergeron illustrates her feelings that teamwork and a close and friendly working environment are keys to her success. A board member from Kelsey-Seybold affirms this statement: "If she doesn't know something, she tries hard to understand it…She hasn't created a barrier between her and the rest of the system. She's part of the system…" (Sit-DuVall, 2004)

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