Understanding the Task
To understand the task and its significance, it is not sufficient to gather ‘all’ the information about the task. It requires an understanding of the process, potential disruptions, possible sources of error and the identification of the impact for all concerned. This creates the basis for searching synergistically for new ideas, processes and solutions in the team. Otherwise, and this happens frequently in team work, each team member seeks solutions for himself, but not for the joint understanding of the task! (“I cannot understand why the others are still mucking about. After all, everything is clear!”)
The task cycle falters, if detail after detail has to be laboriously collected, or, on the emotional level, if caution and anxiety that one may have overlooked something, prevents progress. Then one goes around in circles in order to really think about everything (problem-orientated) or so as not to lose anyone (interest-orientated). Group-dynamically, outsiders are easily created in this way, whose opinions suddenly no longer count, or dominant leadership figures, who no longer allow other opinions to count. Both are usually dysfunctional.