Working in Teams

We define a team as "a group of people who have a commitment to produce a result"

WHY TEAMWORK..
- Teams typically outperform individuals

- Teams use employee talents better

- Teams are more flexible and responsive to changes in the environment - Teams facilitate employee involvement

- Teams are an effective way to democratize an organization and increase motivation

Team Process
Cohesion

Adjustment

Development
Reinforcement

Formation
Definition

Learning

Renewal
Transformation

Ground Rules
When and where the team meets Substitutes allowed at meetings Team records, what,who,how Work expectations of members Confidentiality Participation...

Purpose of the Team

What is the purpose of the team? Each member must understand Team members interest

Goals
Once the teams purpose is clarified, team members must set the goals the team wishes to accomplish!

Performance Measures
In order to know how the team is performing, you have to have measures to gauge progress How to choose measures
Appropriateness of measures Progress towards content goals Progress towards process goals Team member growth and development

THE SIX TEAM BUILDING ROLES

1. Encourager - praises other members' contributions to the team
2. Harmonizer - mediates differences between other members 3. Compromiser - offers a compromise during disagreement or conflict

by yielding position or admitting error

4. Gatekeeper -regulates the flow of communication, particularly in meetings, by encouraging the participation of those less inclined to participate and quieting those who are overly talkative 5. Standard Setter - expresses standards for the team regarding its

operation
6. Group Observer - observes and reports back to the team on its group dynamics

Participation
Conversation Continuum
Closed Debate
Focus is on defending and winning

Open Discussion
Focus in on persuading, prioritizing, and deciding

Dialogue
Focus is on exploring and understanding ideas and people

Verbal Behaviors
What behaviors encourage effective participation
Set context Ask questions from members Use supportive statements Seek out different perspectives Share feelings

Contributor Skills
Initiation - draw out information, clarify ideas Energize - show enthusiasm, engage in team process, show commitment Organize Build relationships Be flexible Learn

Adjustment
Revisions of the initial rules and goals A reality check of what can be accomplished Tensions usually come up here, must reach consensus, usually about personalities Breakpoint comes when the team gets mired in discussions about what to do and who should do what...

Development
Cohesion

Reinforcement

Cohesion
Comes together as a team High energy High interest Progress is made Team is supportive Develop relationships

Reinforcement
Cohesion builds Homogeneity builds Team members are comfortable with each other Start to be interested in self-preservation and self-perpetuation Goals should be on creativity and exploration

Renewal
Learning

Transformation

Learning
Team learns new skills Build relationships to accomplish task Commitment and mutual accountability Now, team may be confrontational over issues

Transformation
Results are produced from team activities Innovative To sustain energy, must stress and press the team Needs new challenges, new members, new tasks, new relationships or...

DOs AND DONTs OF TEAMWORK

DONT BE A BACKBITER

Dont Blame Others

No Bragging

Don't be critical

Don't Take Credit For What Others Are Doing.

Don't be unprepared

Don't speak poorly of those in authority

Dont Lie

Coming Together is a beginning

Keeping together is progress

Working together is success Henry Ford

The strength of the team is each individual member The strength of each member is the team.

If you cant pass the ball, you cant play.

Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordan

TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE

1. Building Interdependence and Trust

Mine field REQUIREMENTS large room or outdoor field Set up a 'mine field' using chairs, balls, cones, boxes, or any other object that could potentially be an obstacle and trip someone up. Leave enough space between the objects for someone to walk through. STEPS divide your group into pairs, put together people who have trust issues with each other. Blindfold one person, the 'mine walker' this person is not allowed to talk his partner shall stay outside the mine field, and give verbal directions, helping the mine walker avoid the obstacles, and reach the other side of the area. allow partners a few minutes to plan how they'll communicate. Then, make sure there are consequences when people hit an obstacle. For example, perhaps they have to start again from the beginning

Thank you