Team Work Contents: Effective Teams Working as a Team Some Team Tips

What Is a Team? A team is several persons who are grouped together to accomplish a common goal, who are dependent on one another for results, and who are equally accountable for the quality of the results.

Characteristics of an Effective Team Clear understanding of purpose and objectives Mutual respect, trust, and support Open, honest, and frequent communication Appreciation of and productive use of individual differences Ability to accept leadership authority and to manage conflict

Purpose Determine What the Team is Suppose to Do and Why? List Team Goals and Targets Tip: Write a Brief Team Purpose Statement and Make it Visible at Each Team Meeting

Stakeholders Who are the Stakeholders? Your Team Members Your Classmates Not in Your Team Your Graduate TA Your Professor The ME Department Your Parents We Are All “Rooting” For You

Team Limitations Money/Budget/Materials Time and Deadlines Workloads and Priorities People on the Team Outside Resources Training

Team Roles Team Leader Keeps Team on Target Resolves Conflict Arranges Logistics Communicates to Stakeholders Team Member Focuses on Team Goals Listens Keenly Participates Fully Keeps Commitments Values Different Ideas Tip: The Team Leader is also a Team Member, and all Team Members Share Equal Responsibility for the Outcome.

Productive Team Meetings Establish a Meeting Process Have an Agenda in Advance Be Punctual and Timely Know Team Meeting Roles –Meeting Leader –Note Taker –Timekeeper

Communication Skills for Team Meetings Leadership Skills Discussion Skills Listening Skills Feedback Skills Tip: Rotate meeting leadership responsibility to help develop this skill in all team members. Everyone participates.

Making Decisions Clarify Exact Decision to Be Made Be Factual and Use Available Data Outline Pros and Cons Choose Decision Method Vote on Decision Check for Consensus Tip: Explore important decisions by informal polling. Go around once and have each team member state which way they are leaning in the vote.

Consensus Consensus Means Finding an Option That All Team Members Will Support. It Does Not Mean That All Team Members Would Select That Option as Their First Choice. Tip: Consensus Decisions are Smooth to Implement Since They are Supported by the Entire Team.

Documenting Team Work Meeting Notes Customer Surveys Planning Charts and Data Graphs Individual Assignment Lists Engineering Sketches, Models, Drawings Final Report

Remember The Key to Successful Team Work is: Planning and Communication