“In Search of an ‘I’ and a ‘We’ in ‘Team’”: A Group-Analytic Tool for Teaching Teamwork

The centrality of teamwork in today’s marketplace is undeniable and well-researched. Its numerous benefits are accompanied by various challenges which make teamwork a valuable aspect of the soft skills that students need to acquire in communication courses. This paper proposes a tool for teaching teamwork in the classroom as well as for maximizing team performance in organizational settings, drawing on Group Analysis, i.e., a group-focused approach to psychotherapy which explores the simultaneous individual and social development of members of a group. The tool in question follows the SPeCS acronym, which relies on two interrelated dimensions, namely Self-Perception of each member and Communication Style he/she adopts. Contrary to common conceptualizations of teamwork as a soft skill on its own, the paper argues that, in order to perform in team settings, members need to work in parallel on multiple interpersonal communication skills (e.g., audience-centered design of message, listening skills) and on their combined, simultaneous perception of themselves from an ‘I’ and a ‘we’ perspective. SPeCS may be used by both students and future professionals as a self-reflective tool which promotes critical thinking as well as engaging and fruitful collaborations.