by David Wilcox

Created on: January 29, 2009

Throughout history teams have been formed either through necessity or desire in order to accomplish tasks, get jobs done or even to simply have fun. The main drive for establishing a team is to achieve a goal that can be performed more logically and efficiently or in some cases only possible through the product of team efforts. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a team as, "A number of persons associated in work or activity especially a group on one side in a match". Although this definition is true, anyone who has been part of a team would define a team as being much more.

Teams have certain characteristics and qualities found in not just any random group of persons. The presence of these characteristics within a team often specifies the quality of a team and the ability that team possesses to accomplish its purposes. I have had the privilege to be part of various teams including a swim team, basketball team and a work crew. A family also has many of the attributes that are being discussed about teams, and if contemplated is in fact a team striving for happiness. And although I am not a soldier I thought it would be good to talk about the kind of team a soldier is a part of because it exemplifies many of the characteristics that I have found present in the teams I have associated with.

The first characteristic of a team is that each member is included, contributes, helps and desires to attain the goal of the team. This is an obvious requirement because a team could not function without it. The members of a team must contribute and be driven, partly by their own interest or wants, to a great enough degree to sacrifice and work hard for the good of the team. In a work team, there are sometimes certain jobs that must be done, but require a little more work or effort to accomplish. In those situations, a good worker will take it upon themselves to do the harder job and contribute a little more, so that the job will get done and the team will operate smoothly. This type of effort made by individual members of a team is of essence in every successful team.

The next characteristic, which is a step higher than the first, is that each member does their best. Whether in practice or during performance, doing their best constantly is the only way a team can fully meet its potential. In swimming there are individual events as well as team relays, (which consist of four swimmers). Not surprisingly the members on each relay that I swim on, including me, do their very best

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