9 Challenges of Teamwork
Learning Objectives
- Learn about the different challenges you might face when working in a team and develop some possible solutions.
Challenges in Teamwork
Regardless of the career you choose and irrespective of where you work (location) or who you work for (for yourself or for an employer), it is highly likely that you will work in a team environment. Working in a team environment often comes with its own challenges. Additionally, you will have the challenge of working through and delivering on your tasks. In this chapter, you will learn about a few challenges (problems) that you might face, how to overcome those challenges and develop important teamwork skills.
Interactive Activity: Challenges and Solutions
Click on the image hotspots to learn some possible solutions to the challenges you may face. The words in the background correspond to each challenge that is discussed.
Here is a PDF copy of the below challenges and solutions if you would like to save them for future reference: Challenges and Possible Solutions
Copyright note: Created by Teagan Menhenett, © Deakin University 2024, licensed under CC-BY-NC.
The content in the above activity has been informed by the following sources: John/Lynn Bruton and Lumen Learning (n.d) and Think Student Editor. (2024, 13 March).
Interactive Activity: Now it’s your turn!
Reflect on the challenges and solutions in the previous activity. Do you think they were helpful? What are some other challenges you can think of? What are some solutions?
Copyright note: Created by Teagan Menhenett, © Deakin University 2024, licensed under CC-BY-NC.
Interactive Activity: What are some signs your team may be struggling?
Based on the challenges discussed above, and your own experience working in teams, reflect on the following prompt- What are some signs your team may be struggling?
Consider the overall productivity of the group, interactions with group members and what the overall quality of your project might look like.
You are welcome to add your reflections to the Mentimeter activity and reflect on what others have shared. Consider whether some of the solutions discussed in the activity above may be of benefit if you notice your team struggling.
Note, the numerical code for the Mentimeter activity won’t work, so you will need to use the QR code on the page instead.
The next chapter will provide some activities you can use to navigate disagreements as well as activities that may help develop your teamwork skills.
Key Takeaways
- You will understand some of the different challenges you may experience in a team and be able to list possible solutions.
- You will be able to reflect on what it might look like if your team is struggling.
Remember: Sometimes there are elephant-sized problems (really big problems), and sometimes there are ant-sized problems (small problems). What may seem like an ant problem to you may feel like an elephant problem to someone else in your team. It is important to keep this in mind when you are experiencing challenges with those you are working with.
