Unit 1 Topic 1: How to Succeed While Working in Groups Topic 2: Leadership Business Analysis

Brainstorm What types of groups have you worked in or are you a part of right now? What made them successful or unsuccessful?

Why is working in groups important? Group assignments are set to prepare you for your professional future, To give you a chance to tackle significant projects, To enable you to demonstrate teamwork skills in this classroom.

In the “Real World” In the ‘real world’ you will find that you will almost certainly have to work in groups—usually not groups of your own choosing. You have to be able to pull together and reach a successful goal.

In Groups we get More Done You can achieve much more if you have a group of people working together, Contributing their different talents and perspectives and, above all, their time. In group assignments you can tackle much more significant projects.

Get Your Job! Employers are particularly interested in teamwork skills You can impress them than to show them a really professional piece of work you have produced in a group assignment.

The two major objectives of a group project are: What is learned:  factual material as well as the process What is produced:  written paper, presentation, and/or media project

If you follow each of the following keys your groups in this class and for the rest of your lives will be successful experiences!

1. Get to know each other! The serious business of work will go more smoothly if you know each other. So the first thing to do is introductions. Later, you might like to share some social activity. Make sure you know how to contact each other

2. Select Team Leader A chairperson should be someone who is strongly committed to the task and has the determination (and diplomacy) to keep things running smoothly. Don’t just choose the noisiest or most self-confident person. Must be done fairly

Selecting a Leader… Questions to think about: Who has what skills or resources? Do you have a good graphic designer? Who will organize the layout? Who is a good proofreader? Who is good at theory?

3. Establish Clear Objectives and Assign Roles/Duties Spend time together analyzing the task Make sure that you all have a common understanding of what is required. Discuss your overall goals too Are you aiming for the best possible product, or will you be satisfied with a Pass?

Class Objective In this class the goals/objective will be to complete the assignment, but how and to what degree and using what resources is up to your team.

4. Achieve Your Objectives Remember: not everyone will have the same level of commitment or the same values/attitudes. You should be able to expect commitment from your team members— Just as in the ‘real world’, you may find yourself working with some blunders.

Achieve with your Objectives Try to deal with difficult group members as positively as you can Getting angry or offended is not going to help much, and your lecturer/professor (just like your future boss) is not likely to be too sympathetic if you complain about your group members.

5. Evaluate /Keep me in the loop! Does the output match the desired objectives? Is this your best work? Are you as a group satisfied? Keep me (Mrs. Thomas) informed about what your group is doing. If you want advice later, I can probably advise you better if I know the whole situation.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls Misunderstandings about responsibilities (Perceived) lack of commitment in some group members Personality clashes One person doing all the work

Good Information to Remember: One of the most important points of basic behavior in a group is common courtesy. Don't be afraid to speak up, but be sure to allow your fellow students time to speak as well. If someone expresses what you feel is a "stupid" opinion, try to criticize it constructively rather than putting down the person.

Good Information Continued Cooperation is a key factor in teamwork. Don't hesitate to try to improve the work of your group by making suggestions, but don't needlessly obstruct for the sake of obstruction.

Activity Think of a really good experience you had as a member of a group. What made it good? Think of a bad experience. What made it bad? What can you learn from the comparison?

LEADERSHIP PART 1

What makes a good leader? What is a leader? What makes a good leader?

Who is a leader to you? Born? or “made”?

Jot down your answers to those questions in your notes packet What does a leader do? Are you a leader? Jot down your answers to those questions in your notes packet

Identify someone you believe is a leader Write down all the reasons why you believe this person is a leader Share with your group

Common characteristics of good leaders: Leadership Characteristics

Common characteristics of good leaders: 10. Communicates well 9. Ability to form one-one relationships Good listener Surrounds himself/herself with like-minded people Refuse to let others dictate how they should do certain things Knows how to identify his/her strengths and weaknesses Ability to acknowledge the need to change Displays high levels of optimism and confidence Is patient 1. Are passionate at what they do

Do you have any of those characteristics? Yes- great- what ways can you develop them more??? No- how can you build some of these leadership skills? (Mr. or Ms.) LEADER

LEADERSHIP PART 2

So, in other words a leader has a lot of influence.

Influence but NOT control!! So… how can you lead and influence but not control every aspect of employees, team, etc.? Many leaders use a leadership style that works best for different situations and with different people.

Leadership Styles There are many ways to classify leaders. 3 traditional ways are: Autocratic Democratic Laissez-Faire

Autocratic Tell others what to do (not why) Assume others can’t make decisions, etc. Can be bad when: Working with people who want independence Leader is narrow minded Can be good when: Working with new people who don’t know the ropes Working with people who don’t care; lack passion Working in emergency situations

Democratic Request input from others Looks for win/win situations Has the best for the group in mind Tends to “step back” and allows others to step up Wants to help others grow *Preferred by most

Laissez-faire When leader allows others to forge ahead Leaders take a “guiding” role Easily used when Others are skilled, knowledgeable, creative, experienced and need little supervision.

Concluding Thoughts One More Thing Who do you think you influence on a daily basis? Society? Family? Friends? Strangers? Video 3:19 One More Thing

ACTIVITY!!

In your group: How would you emerge as a leader in this situation? Which leadership style would you consider this to be?