TASK COHESION VS. SOCIAL COHESION

Importance of working together vs. getting along

Cohesion is the "glue" that holds the team together, but it is divided into two dimensions that do not always go hand in hand.

Task cohesion is the degree to which group members collaborate effectively to achieve common goals.

Social cohesion reflects how much members like each other and how much they enjoy each other's company.

It is possible to have a team that is highly effective at the task that is not supported on a personal level, and vice versa. Think of a professional tennis doubles pair.

They may have exceptional task cohesion: they know each other's moves perfectly, cover the court in sync, and execute complex strategies to win Grand Slams.

However, off the court, they may not speak to each other, dine apart and have no friendly relationship (low social cohesion).

Although social cohesion is desirable and enhances well-being, for pure performance, task cohesion is the strongest predictor of success.

However, a complete lack of social affinity can make the team fragile in the face of losing streaks.

Influencing factors: environmental, personal and leadership.

Cohesion does not magically emerge; it is influenced by multiple factors. Environmental factors include physical proximity and contractual context.

Personal factors encompass demographics and individual motivations. Leadership factors refer to the quality of communication and the coach's style.

In terms of environment, a college volleyball team that lives in the same residence hall and shares all meals will, by sheer proximity, have higher social cohesion than a professional team where players live scattered around town and only see each other at practice.

On a personal level, homogeneity helps: it is easier to unite a group with similar ages and backgrounds than one with huge generational or socioeconomic gaps.

As for leadership, a coach who communicates roles clearly and fai