Team Video 2 (Team 7)

Assignment: Team Video 2
Team: 7
Program: MIM
Question 1: How do team and individual motivations influence teamwork?
Teamwork even if it seems simple at first, in reality is a very complex achievement based on the connection between individual and group dynamics, meaning that each individuals behavior will have an impact on the group's performance and the way they interact with each other. To deep dive on this answer ,we will use different theories to create a complete panorama of teamwork influences.
First, the manifest needs' theory. This concept explains that individuals’ needs for power, affiliation, and achievement influence how they contribute to the team, and how these elements shape their roles within the team.
Second, the 2-Factor theory. Hygiene factors like fair pay and safe working conditions can prevent team members from feeling dissatisfied, but it is not strictly related to better performance. To get people motivated we need to use intrinsic values like achievement and recognition. For example, in an experiment, individuals tasked with solving a creative problem performed worse when promised higher financial rewards, emphasizing that intrinsic motivations like the feeling of accomplishing something drive better results in collaborative and innovative settings and that extrinsic motivators can sometimes impede performance on complex tasks.
Third, the expectancy theory, teams perform better when each member believes their efforts and hard work will lead to valuable and positive outcomes in the end. As we also saw in the video, Daniel Pink also argues that individuals perform better when their work connects to a larger purpose. Meaning that having an established and inspirational goal can help team members to perform higher quality work.
Finally, through equity theory we understood how relevant and important fairness is. Meaning that team dynamics can be impacted by the way their contributions are seen by other team members and assuring they are all valued equally; therefore, establishing trust and a collaborative environment. Together, these theories reveal that aligning individual and team motivations creates valuable and effective teamwork that achieves outstanding results.
Question 2: What can a leader do to influence the performance of a team?
A leader plays a crucial role in influencing team performance by using effective motivation strategies that inspire and engage team members. To achieve this, leaders should recognize both individual and team contributions, foster psychological safety, and promote open communication.
According to the Chapter on Motivation, a leader should first make sure that all the basic hygiene needs are met (fair pay, job security and good working conditions), before putting their focus on intrinsic motivators. Leaders can inspire their teams by assigning meaningful tasks, recognizing achievements, and providing opportunities for growth. Balancing the needs for power, affiliation, and achievement is essential to align personal motivations with team goals.
There are four main strategies leaders can use to influence the performance of the team:
-Giving Praise: recognizing efforts using a four-step approach-specify the behavior, explain its importance, pause for impact, and encourage it to continue.
-Job Enrichment: Make work more engaging by adding challenges while ensuring that basic needs are met.
-Delegating Responsibility: Empower team members by assigning tasks that foster skill development and professional growth.
-Objective Setting: Set clear, measurable, and achievable goals to focus efforts and drive results.
As a conclusion, by implementing these strategies, leaders can effectively motivate their teams, enhance performance, and create a thriving work environment while addressing fairness and intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.