Working together works for engineers…

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It’s Oxymoron Day again! And while sitting together to choose the most creative proposals for oxymorons among your submissions, we randomly bumped into interesting facts about group dynamics. Some of them were surprising, some just funny. Therefore in addition to the most favored word pairs: ten facts about teamwork – not only for engineers. 

Everyone knows that teamwork is important for almost every job. But it is not always easy to carry out in practice. Despite this fact, the team meeting for choosing the best oxymorons was amusing and entertaining. Here are our favorites:

  1. Extinct life
  2. Working vacation
  3. Clearly misunderstood

Thanks to everyone who participated!

For dealing with daily tasks as well as for developing new products, team meetings are scheduled. However, when is team work considered to be successful? We did some research and found a list published by the US business magazine Inc.

The article is referring to the book "Team Genius: The New Science of High-Performing Organizations" written by Rich Karlgaard and Michael Shawn Malone. Based on scientific findings, they tried to explain in which cases teamwork can be considered effective and how to put together successful teams.

10 Facts about effective teamwork

  1. The perfect team size: less is more
    A team with five to nine persons achieves the best outcome. Additional participants reduce efficiency.

  2. Healthy tensions make teams better
    Controversial opinions often lead to better results.

  3. Conflicts are beneficial
    Objective discussions to deal with conflicts contribute to a positive outcome.

  4. Hormone oxytocin within good teams
    If team members are getting along with each other well, the ‘feel-good-hormone’ oxytocin is released which in turn leads to a stronger bond.

  5. Equality makes teams more productive
    Whereas a leader fuels animosities.

  6. Without a team manager fewer goals will be achieved
    However, someone needs to keep the team focused and to ensure its constructive cooperation.

  7. A genius gets further with a team
    Geniuses mostly work more effective within a team – especially if they are not the only brilliant mind.

  8. Men tend to get unsure outnumbered by women
    This does not apply the other way around.

  9. Preferably no peers
    Teams with members of different ages are most effective.

  10. Virtual teams don’t perform equally well
    Groups that meet regularly achieve the best results.

These facts are not presented as prejudices against teams but offer thought-provoking impulses for teamwork – whether at work or in your spare time.

We hope these suggestions will help you to achieve your goals even faster! 

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