- Characteristics of an effective team
Effective communication
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities
Timely follow through and follow-up
Flexibility in approach to assignment

Teams are a growing approach to business solutions. In order to be an effective team, you must possess certain qualities. One of those qualities is effective communication. Communication can be oral, written or non-verbal. In order to complete the assigned task successfully, the team must know how to communicate with one another. Another characteristic of an effective team is clearly defined roles and responsibilities. The team members need to know what position or role they play in their contribution to the team. When roles are not clearly identified it can cause confusion among the team members. Yet another characteristic of an effective team is timely follow through and follow-up of the assigned task. In a team environment we are all connected through our workflows. Every part of a team and its approach is dependent upon another. No portion of a true team operates on its own. Lastly, teams must be flexible in their approach of the assignment. Everyone should have an open mind and recognize that each team member has something valuable to contribute.

- Advantages and challenges of working within a team
Increased productivity
Increased quality
Global perspective
Varied motivation
Diverse approaches/styles

Due to the nature of teams and its dynamics, there will be advantages and disadvantages in being a part of a team. Within an effective team you will find increased productivity. Surely 15 team members can do more than one person when tasked with an assignment. Another benefit would be increased quality. When you have more than one set of “eyes” looking at something you will find increased quality of the product. Global perspective is yet another benefit. Effective are diverse in knowledge and experience, thereby brining something different to the team. As for the challenges of a team, everyone is motivated by something different. For example, someone maybe motivated by knowing that at the end of this journey they would have earned their graduate degree and accomplished one of their life goals. For someone else, the motivation maybe the ability to earn more money with their graduate degree and not necessarily the fact that they earned the degree.
Another challenge to teams is that everyone will have a different approach or style to the assigned task due to their previous experience. If you keep an open mind, this particular challenge can actually become an advantage.

- Strategies for conflict resolution

Communicate the expectations
Approach the individual one on one
Offer help
Hold a team meeting

Invariably whenever you have more than one person to be a part of a team conflict can arise. How a team resolves that conflict will determine if they survive and remain successful. The first strategy that must be implemented to resolve conflict is communicating the expectations. You have to have clearly defined expectations so that the team will know what is required of them. Another part of that strategy is to approach the individual or individuals in which you are experiencing the conflict with one on one. This allows for both parties to have healthy dialogue about the issues with other parties being involved. Upon having that dialogue a team member may learn that the other team member needed some help and that they were not comfortable articulating that to the overall group. Still another way of resolving conflict is to hold a team meeting. In some scenarios holding a team meeting will get diverse input and potentially a resolution to the problem. Also, you can hold team meetings to gain consensus whenever there is an issue.