TEAMS AND TEAM WORK

Module
7
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Team
A team is a small group of people working
together to achieve a common purpose for
which they hold themselves collectively
accountable.
A team generates positive synergy through
coordinated effort.
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Features of a Team
Self defined goals
Commitment to the goals
Shared accountability/responsibility for results
Shared leadership
Possess Complementary skills
Trust and support other members
Efforts lead to Synergic effect
Network system (instead of hierarchical system of groups)
for reporting and communication
Open communication system
Mechanism to resolve differences and reach consensus
within
In summary, teams create the potential for an
organisation to generate greater outputs with no increase
in inputs.
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Comparing Groups and Teams
The differences between a group and a team
may be summarised as below:
Group Point Team
A function of what its members do as Performance Performance includes individual efforts and collective
Individuals work products which are the result of joint,
coordinated attempts
Strong, clearly focused leader Leader Shared leadership roles
Individual Accountability Accountability Individual and mutual accountability
Runs efficient meetings Meetings Encourages open-ended active, problem-solving meeting
Random and varied Skills Complementary
Neutral (sometime negative) Synergy Positive
Discusses, decides and delegates Functioning Discusses, decides and does real work together
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Types of teams
Problem Solving Team: A group of 5 to 12 employees from
the same department who meet to discuss ways of
improving quality, efficiency and the work environment.
Self Managing Teams: Teams that are empowered to make
decisions about planning, doing and evaluating their
work.
Cross Functional Team: It brings together persons from
different functions to work on a common task.
Virtual Team: It is a team that uses computer technology
and groupware so that geographically distant members
can collaborate on projects and reach common goals.
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Teamwork
Teamwork occurs when group members work
together in ways that utilize their skills well
to accomplish a common purpose.
Team wok, of course, does not just happen.
To create a high performing team, a leader
has to employ certain techniques.
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Techniques create a High
Performing Team
Communicate high-performance standards.
Set the tone in the first team meeting.
Create a sense of urgency.
Make sure members have the right skills.
Establish clear rules for team behaviour.
As a leader, model expected behaviours.
Find ways to create early successes.
Continually introduce new facts and information.
Make sure members spend a lot of time together.
Give positive feedback and reward high performance.
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Roles of Team Members

Task Specialist Role Socio Emotional Role

People who play the task specialist role display People who support team members emotional
the following behaviours. needs play the following roles:
Initiation: Propose new solutions to team Encourage: Warm and receptive to others
problems. i deas; prai se and encourage ot hers t o
draw forth their contributions.
Give opinions: Offer opinions on task solutions; Harmonise: Reconcile group conflicts; help
Give candid feedback on others suggestions. disagreeing parties reach agreement.
Seek information: Ask for task relevant facts. Reduce tension: May tell jokes or in other ways
draw off emotions when group atmosphere is
tense.
Summarise: Relate various ideas to the problem at Follow: Go along with the team; agree to other
Hand; pull ideas together into a summary perspective. team members ideas.
Energiser: Stimulate the team into action when Compromise: Will shift own opinions to maintain
interest drops. team harmony.

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Teambuilding
The teambuilding process begins when
someone notices that a problem exists which
can be solved through collective efforts.
Members then gather data concerning the
problem analyse the data, plan for
improvements and implement the action
plans.
Every one is expected to participate actively
and perform certain specific roles aimed at
improving the effectiveness of the team.
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Effective Teambuilding
Behaviours of members
Speak respectfully to one another
Listen attentively
Express feelings honestly
Seek help when needed
Make commitments seriously
Support the teamand each other
Focus on problems and solutions
Behaviours of leaders
Serve as the team's champion
Demonstrate trust, respect and openness consistently
Share power and information
Help members find answers on their own
Coordinate activities properly
Offer encouragement and support
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Building trust in Team
Trust is a key element in building teamwork. When work group
members trust one another, there will be a more active
interchange ofinformation, more interpersonal influence and
hence greater self-control. To build trust, a leader should,
Support work teamwholeheartedly
Keep people informed about what is going on
Learn to appreciate and give credit to people
Share your feelings with members
Use interpersonal skills to move closer to the hearts of
people
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Team Development
To be effective, teams need to be small.
Members must have interpersonal and problem
solving skills.
They must listen and appreciate each others
point of view.
Team leaders should be capable of handling
disagreements on goals and responsibilities
smoothly, resolving delays and disputes when
making decisions and reducing friction and
interpersonal conflicts.
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Effective Team Development Tips
Balanced roles
Create a balanced set of roles.
Open communication
Develop communication and process awareness.
Handling stress
Diagnose and manage stress.
Team choices
Understand team preferences.
Team goals
Define team goal.
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Effective Team Development Tips
Review mechanisms
Establish review mechanisms.
Shared leadership
Share leadership and create equality of
contribution.
Facilitation skills
Develop facilitation skills for effective meetings.
Shake off the constraints of the past
Confront issues and problems.
Consensus
Decision making based on consensus. 14 NagarajShenoySlides
Any Questions?
End of Module 7
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