Teams in Organizations: Lesson from Pygmies

Teams in Organizations: Lesson from Pygmies

The article discusses the effectiveness of work teams with reference to the organization of the pygmies of Africa. The pygmies live as a group working together, sharing and necessitating high levels of tolerance. The pygmies also hunt in teams so as to make a bountiful catch. The pygmies also have a high degree of mutual respect and trust. They also strive to maintain a happy mood within the group. Overall, the pygmy community has a positive perspective towards life. This is irrespective of the harsh environment in the rain forest of Africa (Vries, 1997). The successful existence of the pygmies over the decades is a lesson that teams within organizations must learn.

Effective team work is vital for organizational success. Organizations create teams to accomplish different tasks. Just like the pygmies communities, teams need to focus on attaining quality in the tasks assigned to them. The aspect of respect is also crucial for the effective function of teams within organizations. Team members must respect each other and acknowledge that each team member has his potential.

The article makes reliable comparison on the effectiveness of teams within the pygmy community and high performing organizations. Factors such as conflict and lack of trust interfere with team work in organizations. However, conflict and issues of trust are no existence in pygmy community. Power hoarding is another factor that impeded team work in organizations. The need to acquire control and authority over other interferes with team work (Vries, 1997). Other factors that interfere with team work within organization include status difference, self censorship and group think.

Teams in organizations must learn to operate like the pygmy community. Team members must strive to protect and support each other. The aspect of dialogue and communication is also vital for the successful functioning of the team. Team members should also have a common objective. The common objective is the driver of the team. Teams must also strive to share leadership through turn taking when carrying out different tasks.  Teams within organizations must take lessons from the functioning of the pygmy community.

Reference

Vries, K. (1997). High performance teams: lesson from the pygmies. Retrieved from http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/research/doc.cfm?did=46656

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