Working in Teams

References Team Dynamics, Housal, Debra Southwestern/Thomson Learning, 2002 Teams, Structure, Process, Culture, and Politics, Aranda, Eileen K. and Luis, Prentice Hall, 1998 The Wisdom of Teams, Katzenbach, Jon and Smith Douglas, Harper Business, 1994 “How Management Teams Can Have a Good Fight”, Eisenhardt, Kathleen, Jean Kahwajy, and L. J. Boureois III, Harvard Business Review, 1997

Objectives Phases of a team Advantages to teams Characteristics of a good team Barriers to team efficiency Habits of a good team

Advantages of Teams Cost Effective Better Morale Time Effective Better decision-making Compressed product life cycle Any disadvantages to teams?

Team Structure Team Size Team Membership Team Skills Stability of the team Purpose

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

Goals Once the team’s purpose is clarified, team members must set the goals the team wishes to accomplish! Create a plan to achieve the goals set Written Realistic Specific Monitored

Team Process Performing Forming Storming Norming

Forming First meeting of the team Define what they need to accomplish and how the team will operate Develop measures for short and long term success Having short term goals, reinvigorates Long term is the ultimate purpose Establish ground rules of operation

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

Participation Conversation Continuum Open Closed Debate Discussion Dialogue Focus is on exploring and understanding ideas and people Focus is on defending and winning Focus in on persuading, prioritizing, and deciding

Storming 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...

Norming Create Cohesion Rely on each other Constructive feedback Effective management of conflicts Reinforcement

Performing Operate well as a team High Morale Accomplishments Open participation Cooperation Task oriented Can challenge each other There is interpersonal conflict but it can be resolved without rancor

Habits of a Good Team Share common goals and work collaboratively Open and frequent communication Inclusive attitude Share leadership and problem-solving tasks High level of trust and cooperation Handle conflict well

Traits of a Good Team Member Treats others professionally Cooperative Positive outlook Reliable Good communicator Open to change Listens well Trustworthy Diplomatic Willing to learn

Barriers to Successful Teams Anti-social people Individualism Skill segregation Role segregation Inexperience Group think Can’t cope with change Can’t make a decision Lack of support Difficult members

Working with Difficult People Controlling/Aggressors Volcanoes Passive/aggressive Complainers Lazy Bums Defiant Don’t get angry Praise achievement Refer to rules/goals Offer to help Treat others as you would like to be treated Acknowledge their point of view then offer yours Pick up on non-verbal cues Criticize negative behavior not the person

When is it good to use a Team?