Are Self Directed Work Teams For You?
Team Building Question:
What are some disadvantages of self directed work teams?
The Team Doc Says…
The advantages do outweigh the disadvantages in my opinion, but some of the disadvantages can be:
- More meetings
Teams are made up of groups of people (no secret here!) which requires that they get together often to discuss team business. Provide them with the training they need so their meetings will be more than a gathering of people. - Longer decision-making process
When one person makes all the decisions, it can be done in a heartbeat. When several people are required to provide input and discussion the pros and cons before making a decision, it can take some time. Equip your teams with decision-making tools so that the process is not agonizing for them. - A dip in productivity before it takes off in a positive direction
Things around your company will be very different. After you begin your journey, you may even begin to wonder why you started in the first place! Be patient, the gains will come and typically they will be big gains. - Chaos
Ensure that your organization is really ready to provide the infrastructure and support needed by teams to accomplish their work. If the organization merely calls a work group a team and doesn’t provide critical training and support, you’ll have a major mess on your hands.
Denise O’Berry (aka “Team Doc”) provides tools, tips and advice to help organizations build better teams. Find out more at http://www.teambuildingtips.com
