Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

My favorite metaphor for an organization is “Team.”

Teamwork is a key component of any organized group trying to get something done. Using a sporting reference, most teams have a coach to guide them through the effort but from my work experience, teams are able to accomplish anything as long as there is a very clear goal set for the group.

In a work environment, leaders emerge within the team, and as long as there is trust, each member can support other team members to accomplish the goal. 

Concerning human communication theory, the co-orientation theory in the Cybernetic tradition works best to describe a business "team," in my opinion. James R. Taylor, who developed the organizational process of co-orientation with peers in what is known as the Montreal School of Organizational Communication, explored the idea that organizing happens when two people interact around a particular focus of concern. I believe that this focus is key to organizational clarity for the team and its members. 

In a business setting, unlike a sports team, most members of the group or organizational unit do not have a choice in what team they are on, so some negotiation takes place. 

Taylor acknowledges that the individuals bring differing worldviews and perspectives to the organization. These varying orientations toward the shared goal are natural because people have different spheres of concern and differing interests. He then describes how these members become connected by achieving a common goal. Once these outcomes are achieved, a "positive co-orientation" gets established, and the individuals become a "team." Taylor also explains that this co-orientation can be scaled up through repeatability. 

The co-orientation concept developed by Taylor can be broadly applied when any group of individuals are drawn together intentionally or not to complete a common goal. This team orientation is seen in tribal initiation rites throughout history and modern forms of the fraternity hazing ritual. Most commonly in business, this concept is related through military examples of Bootcamp and in parables like "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni.

An additional point is that co-orientation theory can apply to anyone and not just people that have played organized sports or been on a traditional "team." By rallying individuals toward a common goal, this theory can be applied to create and support effective organizational structures.