Back to the Basic of Teamwork

Back to the Basic of Teamwork Mrs. Sophya Johnson; M.S. Customer Service Rep/ Certified Faculty Developer (CFD) August 18, 2016

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Definitions of: Team , Teamwork, & Team Building Benefits to Team Building Learn the levels of Teamwork Reasons why Team build is important in the workplace 5 Easy Steps for Building an Effective Team How to Be an Effective Team Member

Definitions

• Team?

Team

• Teamwork? Teamwork • Team Building?

Team Building

• A group of people with a full set of complementary skills required to complete a task, job, or project.(Businessdictionary.com) • A group of people with different skills and different tasks, who work together on a common project, service, or goal, with a meshing of functions and mutual support. (Washington.edu)

• The process of working collaboratively with a group of people in order to achieve a goal.

• Teamwork is often a crucial part of a business, as it is often necessary for colleagues to work well together, trying their best in any circumstance.

• Teamwork means that people will try to cooperate, using their individual skills and providing constructive feedback, despite any personal conflict between individuals. (the-happymanager.com)

• Is the process of enabling that group of people to reach their goal.

• Training, professional development for the group of people.

• It is therefore a management issue. (teamtechnology.co.uk)

Benefits to Team Building: Why are you here? http://www.innovativeteambuilding.co.uk/benefits-of-teambuilding/

7. To improves the ability to problem solve

1. To improve morale and leadership skills

2. To find the barriers that frustrate creativity

Team Building Helps

6. To identifies a team’s strengths and weaknesses

3. To clearly define objectives and goals 5. To improve organizational productivity

4. To improve processes and procedures

Levels of Teamwork The next step is to understand the degree of teamwork to which a group of people can aspire.

1. The Working Group 2. The Pseudo Team 3. The Potential Team 4. The Real Team 5. The High Performance Team

1) The Working Group 1. The members interact mainly to share information and best practices and to make decisions.

3. The purpose of this group is only to specify the roles of its members and to delegate tasks.

2. There are no common purpose or performance goals that require mutual accountability.

5. Therefore, the focus is on individual performance.

4. Its members only take responsibility for their own results.

2) Pseudo Team 1. There’s a potential for significant, incremental gain here.

5. The pseudo team resides at the bottom of the performance curve and is the weakest of the five levels.

3. The members don’t want to take the risks necessary to become a potential team.

2. The team has not, however, focused on collective performance.

4. They are not interested in creating a common purpose or setting performance goals.

3) The Potential Team 3. However, the members must work on developing a clear purpose, goals, and common approach.

1. There is a significant, incremental gain in performance with this type of team.

2. The members are working hard to achieve a higher level of performance.

5. This form of teamwork is very common in organizations

4. The members must also agree on mutual accountability.

4) The Real Team 1. This consists of a small group of people who share a common purpose, goals, and approach to work.

3. They hold themselves mutually accountable for their results.

2. The members have complementary skills.

4. The performance impact and results of the real team are much greater than the potential team and working group.

5) The High Performance Team 1. This has all the characteristics of a real team, but the members are deeply committed to one another’s personal growth and development.

3. The members form powerful relationships.

2. They far out-perform all other teams.

5. In effect, what is needed is a leap of faith

4. Moving from a real team to a high performance team requires a very strong personal commitment.

Reasons why team building is important workplace http://redshoespr.com/5-reasons-why-team-building-is-important/ 1. Facilitates better communication • Activities that create discussion enable open communication among employees, and between employees and management.

• This can improve office relationships and in turn, the quality of work done.

2. Motivates employees • The more comfortable your employees are to express their ideas and opinions, the more confident they will become.

3. Promotes creativity • Taking a team outside of an office setting and exposing them to new experiences will force them to think outside of their normal routine.

• Working together with other team members can ignite creativity and fresh ideas, which are great qualities to bring back to the office.

4. Develops problem-solving skills • In public relations a crisis can happen at any time.

• Team building activities that require coworkers to work together to solve problems can improve the ability to think rationally and strategically.

• Teams that are able to determine when a problem arises and know what they can do about it, can then effectively take charge when a real crisis occurs.

5. Breaks the barrier • Team building increases the trust factor with your employees.

• Often in corporate settings there is a disconnect between the leadership team and employees because the employees sense too large of a gap between the two.

• Team building exercises give leadership the opportunity to be seen as a colleague rather than a boss, which can do wonders for employee morale.

5 Easy Steps for Building an Effective Team http://blog.gracehill.com/ghexchange/2015/12/5-easy-steps-for-building-an-effective-team.html

• An effective team doesn’t just happen.

• Effective teams often share five characteristics that establish a basis for how the team functions, communicates, and ultimately, determines if the team’s goal is achieved.

5 Characteristics Characteristic 1: Awareness

Characteristic 2: Creative

• It’s important that each team member understand not only the team’s goal, but also the group’s processes and available resources.

• A creative team is willing to take risks.

• Let the team explore new, never-before-tried ideas even if it makes management uncomfortable.

Characteristic 3: Responsiveness

• The best teams allow for open communication.

• Each member can contribute ideas or critiques without fear of humiliation or retribution.

• They can also expect open, honest feedback from their colleagues.

Characteristic 4: Activeness

• Teams that are overwhelmed by the end goal or teams that feel they have no purpose in the overall scheme of things are not productive.

• Provide the team with smaller goals that are clearly steps toward the final goal.

• Keep your team motivated by providing training that applies to their role within the team.

Characteristic 5: Fulfillment

• Teamwork should not be feared or avoided.

• It should be a time to bring together colleagues with similar or varied skills to achieve something big.

• At times, it may be necessary to redistribute the workload or build up a team member who seems to be struggling.

• Each person should feel like a valued member of the team and be excited to contribute to creating a better community.

How to Be an Effective Team Member http://www.effectivemeetings.com/teams/teamwork/effective.asp

• Working on teams can be rewarding, but at times it can be difficult and downright frustrating.

• If there are poor communicators on your team, you may often feel left in the dark, confused or misunderstood.

• To create a successful team, effective communication methods are necessary for both team members and leaders.

• Even though some people understand their communication skills need improving, many aren't certain how to improve them.

1. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate Communicate, Communicate, Communicate • If you have a problem with someone in your group, talk to him about it.

• Letting bad feelings brew will only make you sour and want to isolate yourself from the group.

• Not only does it feel good to get it out, but it will be better for the team in the long run.

2. Don't Blame Others Don't Blame Others • People in your group lose respect for you if you're constantly blaming others for not meeting deadlines.

• You're not fooling anyone, people know who isn't pulling his weight in a group.

• Pointing the finger will only make you look cowardly.

• Group members understand if you have a heavy workload and weren't able to meet a deadline.

• Saying something like, "I'm really sorry, but I'll get it to you by the end of today."

• Will earn you a lot more respect than trying to make it seem like it's everyone else's fault that you missed your deadline.

3. Support Group Member's Ideas Support Group Member's Ideas • If a teammate suggests something, always consider it – even if it's the silliest idea you've ever heard!

• Considering the group's ideas shows you're interested in other people's ideas, not just your own.

• And this makes you a good team member.

• After all, nobody likes a know-it-all.

4. No Bragging No Bragging • It's one thing to rejoice in your successes with the group, but don't act like a superstar.

• Doing this will make others regret your personal successes and may create tension within the group.

• You don't have to brag to let people know you've done a good job, people will already know.

• Have faith that people will recognize when good work is being done and that they'll let you know how well you're doing.

• Your response? Something like "Thanks, that means a lot." is enough.

5. Listen Actively Listen Actively • Look at the person who's speaking to you, nod, ask probing questions and acknowledge what's said by paraphrasing points that have been made.

• If you're unclear about something that's been said, ask for more information to clear up any confusion before moving on.

• Effective communication is a vital part of any team, so the value of good listening skills shouldn't be underestimated.

6. Get Involved Get Involved • Share suggestions, ideas, solutions and proposals with your team members.

• Take the time to help your fellow teammates, no matter the request.

• You can guarantee there will be a time in the future when you'll need some help or advice.

• And if you've helped them in past, they'll be more than happy to lend a helping hand.

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Activity 12: Elements of Teamwork – An Inventory of Skills Part of being a good team member is learning how to understand your personal strengths (what you have to offer) AND where you might need to draw assistance from others.

“What does it take from each person on a team to make a team really work?”

SKILL #1:

• ARE YOU RELIABLE

SKILL #2:

• ARE YOU AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR

SKILL #3:

• ARE YOU AN ACTIVE LISTENER

SKILL #4:

• DO YOU PARTICIPATE

SKILL #5:

• DO YOU SHARE OPENLY AND WILLINGLY

SKILL #6:

• DO YOU COOPERATIVE

SKILL #7:

• ARE YOU FLEXIBLE

SKILL #8:

• ARE YOU COMMITTED

SKILL #9:

• ARE YOU A PROBLEM SOLVER

SKILL #10:

• ARE YOU RESPECTFUL

Conclusion https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills/teamwork.pdf

Teamwork involves building relationships and working with other people using a number of important skills and habits: • Working cooperatively • Contributing to groups with ideas, suggestions, and effort • Communication (both giving and receiving) • Sense of responsibility • Healthy respect for different opinions, customs, and individual preferences • Ability to participate in group decision-making

Cont.

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Teamwork is an essential part of workplace success.

Like a basketball team working together to set up the perfect shot, every team member has a specific role to play in accomplishing tasks on the job.

Although it may seem as if one player scored the basket, that basket was made possible by many people’s planning, coordination, and cooperation to get that player the ball.

Employers look for people who not only know how to work well with others, but who understand that not every player on the team can or will be the one who gets the ball.

When everyone in the workplace works together to accomplish goals, everyone achieves more and everyone benefits

Quotes “There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” - George Shinn (former owner of Charlotte, now New Orleans, Hornets basketball team)

“Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi (football coach)

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.” Henry Ford (pioneer of the assembly-line production method)

“Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it.” Bill Bradley (American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey)

“Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” - Mattie Stepanek (advocate on behalf of peace, people with disabilities, and children with lifethreatening conditions who died one month before his 14th birthday)

“Finding good players is easy. Getting them to play as a team is another story.” - Casey Stengel (baseball hall of famer)

Website Article References •5 Easy Steps for Building an Effective Team: http://blog.gracehill.com/ghexchange/2015/12/5-easy-steps-forbuilding-an-effective-team.html

•5 reasons why team building is important: http://redshoespr.com/5-reasons-why-team-building-is-important/ •Businessdictionary.com: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/teamwork.html •Effective Meetings.com: http://www.effectivemeetings.com/teams/teamwork/effective.asp •Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success : http://courses.washington.edu/ie337/team.pdf

•Team Building - A Complete Guide: http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/tt/h-articl/tb-basic.htm •Teamwork: http://the-happy-manager.com/articles/why-is-teamwork-important/ •The Five Levels of Teams: Where Are You on the Team Curve? (Part Three of a Series): https://changingwinds.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/the-five-levels-of-teams-where-are-you-on-the-team-curve-partthree-of-a-series/

•The Team Building Directory: http://www.innovativeteambuilding.co.uk/benefits-of-teambuilding/

Contact Information Mrs. Sophya Johnson, M.S. Certified Customer Service Rep & Certified Faculty Developer (CFD)

(256) 468-6568 sophya2378@gmail.com