Working in Teams Tools to help you Walk the Walk

Collaborative decision-making through team action 4 Tools: Flow charts Nominal group techniques Cause-effect Diagram (fishbone, Ishikawa) Walk - thru

Core Belief: Groups are more capable than individuals 3

If you want to go fast, go alone… If you want to go far, go together African proverb

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In a Learning Organization… People feel they are doing something that matters Everyone is growing More intelligent together than apart Continuous improvement in self awareness No taboo topics Trust Freedom to explore Team learning

Atul Gawande: Cowboys and Pit Crews

Team work The Wisdom of Teams Creating the High performance organization Jon R Katzenbach & Douglas K. Smith Collins Business Essentials, 2005

New team paradigm: OLD Individual accountability Decision makers vs.. do-ers Managerial control Fair pay for fair work NEW Joint accountability, mutual support (plus indiv accountability) All are decision makers and do-ers Buy in (engagement) to shape direction and learn Personal growth

Team basics Common and measurable performance goal(s): primary objective Small numbers: practical Require complementary skills Common purpose Common work approach Mutual accountability The leader does not determine performance Most orgs have huge untapped team potential High performing team have discipline/ a clear plan

Building a Team: Establish urgency and direction Select members based on skills/ skill potential (not personality) Pay attention to first meetings and first actions Set clear rules for behavior Set clear performance tasks/goals Spend time together Use positive feedback and recognition/ reward

Team leadership Avoid solo decision making (including work assignments Avoid individual accountability Urge team to maintain/ sharpen common purpose Inspire trust Create opportunities for members Remove barriers to team performance

So How do we Do This Team Stuff? Use The Tools to Walk the walk!

Flow Charts Step 1: Draw the first and last step of the process Step 2: Fill in all the steps of the process Step 3: Note any Flaws to the process: Step 4: Note any Fixes for the Flaws you have defined. Step 5: Use the flow chart along with other tools to consider next steps for improvement projects.

Nominal Group Technique Step 1: Silent Generation of ideas based on a strong question Step 2:Round Robin Report and Record Step 3:Discussion for Clarification Step 4: Voting

Cause-Effect Diagram Step 1:Define the problem in a center circle Step2: draw a cause circle at each of the 4 compass headings. Step 3: Ask the group to define at least these 4 causes and place them in the circles. Are there other primary causes? Step 4:Explore the sub causes of the primary causes, and continue until all causes have been explored. The result will be an inventory of granular root causes, some of which will be excellent targets for improvement.

The Walk - Thru Complete the entire process Make the phone call. Do the 1.Inform your staff. 2.Include 2 participants 3.Plan your roles / stay in roles 4.Take notes 5. Focus on the emotional experience 6. Look for “Value Added” Is this step needed?, Is this step the best that it can be? 7.Complete the entire process (pre steps, post steps) 8.Process the results with the team

Mat Roosa , x4969