Management has noticed that the accounting work group is having difficulty because group members seem...

Group cohesiveness refers to the degree to which members are attracted to one another and are motivated to remain part of the group. When members are "working in different directions," it indicates a lack of alignment and shared purpose. One of the most effective structural methods to foster unity is togive group rewards rather than individual rewards. When rewards are tied to the collective output of the team, members are incentivized to collaborate, share information, and support one another to ensure the entire group succeeds. Individual rewards often foster internal competition, which can further fragment a group that is already struggling with alignment.

In addition to group-based rewards, other strategies to increase cohesiveness include making the group smaller, increasing the time members spend together, and stimulating competition withothergroups (rather than avoiding it). By shifting the focus from individual achievement to collective success, the organization encourages members to coordinate their efforts, thereby increasing the "we-feeling" necessary for high-performing teams.