Many people around the world are thinking about teams today. These thoughts are rooted in a tragic story but they remind us of a beautiful reality. Teams last forever. I teach management and recently in class discussion we explored the topic of how teams are different from groups. Both groups and teams are very important in management. They both have their place. The intensity of interaction is greater in a team and a team’s vision or purpose is much more specific than that of a group (Jones et al., 2016). So, do teams last forever as the headline in this post suggests? I think so.

I try to be intentional when I describe myself as a team member versus a group participant. I don’t take the team label lightly. Teams have a structure with roles, and norms. We have team captains and we wear team jerseys. We are “mates” in a team. Teams have a higher purpose which can require sacrifice to be achieved, e.g. “She did it for the team.” We trust each other on a team, e.g. “I knew she would be there for me.” We think of teams like we think of family. We are sisters and we are brothers.

I don’t think teams ever stop being teams. Their intensity and their purpose sustain them forever. Once you join a team it will always be part of you, and you will always be part of the team. #jerseysforhumbolt #humboltstrong #nscc