Groups
A structured collection of people created by an organization to do specific tasks (e.g., student council).
Formal Group
A small group with complementary skills committed to a common purpose and performance goals.
Team
This role sets expectations, monitors work, and gives feedback inside the team.
Supervisor Role
A loose collection based on friendship or common interest (e.g., who you sit with at lunch).
Informal Group
The idea that a team’s total output can be greater than the sum of individuals.
Synergy
This role connects the team to other groups and resources across the organization.
Network Facilitator
The main way formal groups and informal groups differ.
Purpose and Structure
The three basics every effective team clarifies at the start.
Clear Goals, Roles, Ground Rules/Communication
his role works alongside the team, doing tasks and modeling behaviors.
Participant Role
This problem happens when people put in less effort in a group than when alone.
In which situation do teams usually beat individuals: (A) copying notes, (B) solving a complex, multi-step problem under time pressure?
B) solving a complex, multi-step problem under time pressure
This role mostly stays outside the day-to-day but provides guidance, training, and support when needed.
External Coach
Two ways to reduce social loafing.
Clear roles/ownership, visibility (initials/metrics), indispensable/unique tasks, or fast feedback
Your team’s meetings drift, decisions are vague, and no one follows through. Name the single most powerful fix.
assigning clear action owners with deadlines (plus a short agenda)
The deadline just moved up 48 hours and two members are in conflict. Which role should the manager lean on first, and why?
Supervisor—to set priorities, clarify tasks, and resolve the conflict quickly