In David Chernenko’s blog post, he discusses the difference between the terms, ‘group’ and ‘team.’ He reflects on how these words were present in his life, and discusses how sometimes, these terms were mere labels that did not truly encompass its true definition. In fact, David pulls from a prior experience before entering Sauder: he talks about his time working at a construction site. He points out that since there was a lack of teamwork and collaboration within the team, this negatively affected overall efficiency and productivity when completing tasks. Therefore, David clearly points out that it is not enough to call a group of people a team; all members must come together to maximize performance output by supporting each other and working together.

This is relevant to my own life as I have had the pleasure of being part of an exceptional team during my time working at Cactus Club Café. I remember that I was quite timid as I was hired at the age of 15, but in time, I came to befriend my coworkers and eventually found my place amongst my fellow employees. As I better acquainted myself with my peers, we naturally began supporting each other and we worked together more proficiently than I could have ever imagined. This came with very positive results as my manager noted that there was a definite increase in customer satisfaction and overall productivity. I felt that work had become less of a tedious task and more of a place where I can spend time with an eclectic mix of individuals while serving food to others at the same time. Consequently, I have learned that one must be willing to collaborate others in order to transform a group of people into a team, and the result of working with others is incredibly rewarding. It Is safe to say that I have made connections that have lasted several years since my time at Cactus Club, and I know that this network would not exist if we were a mere ‘group’ of people that were forced to work together.

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