Importance of Team Work

What is a team?• A team is a small number of people with

complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable

• Small Number• Complementary Skills• Common Purpose & Performance Goals• Common Approach• Mutual Accountability

Why Use Teams?• Most of today’s business assignments are addressed

by multidisciplinary teams.

• Team building is an important part of the modern workforce.

• Team building is an important part of your preparation for engineering practice

Advantages and Challenges• Advantage: When the group works together, the

accomplishments will surpass any results associated with any one individual.

• Challenge: Any team member functioning independently of other team members or competing with them will REDUCE the performance of the team – EVERYONE’s outcome.

Advantages and Challenges• Advantage: Every person can contribute in some

way.

• Challenge: No member’s contributions should ever be automatically disregarded.

Vision of the team• A common and meaningful purpose sets the tone• Specific performance goals are an integral part of the

purpose.• The combination is essential to the performance

(measure the progress).• By staying rooted in our commitment, today’s vision

becomes tomorrow’s reality.

What teammates do• Teammates inconvenience themselves to help

each other.• Teammates demonstrate patience and

concern for each other.• Teammates enjoy each others successes and

avoid envy and jealously.• Teammates show compassion for each other.

They can identify with the pain of others, and they’re compelled to help relieve it.

• Teammates forgive each other. They believe others will respond to forgiveness with a deep sense of appreciation and a desire to act responsibly.

Remember• Together• Everyone• Accomplishes• More• With• Organization• Responsibility, and• Knowledge

Effective Team Member • Takes responsibility for

the success of the team.• Delivers on commitments.• Contributes to

discussions.• Listens and asks helpful

questions.• Gets the message across

clearly.• Gives and receives useful

feedback.

When do Teams Work Best?Team’s succeed when members have:

1. Commitment to common objectivesMore likely when they set them; recognize interdependence

2. Defined, appropriate roles and responsibilities– Good use of individual talent– Opportunity for each to grow, learn all skills

3. Effective decision systems, communication and work procedures– Open, honest communication– Accepts conflict, manages it, resolves it well

4. Good personal relationships– Mutual trust

Team Building

Stages in Team Building

FormingForming

StormingStorming

NormingNorming

PerformingPerforming

AdjourningAdjourning

Stage 1: FORMINGMajor ProcessesExchange of information, Increased interdependency, TaskExploration, Identification of commonalities

CharacteristicsTentative interactions, polite discourse; concern overambiguity; self-discourse

Stage 2: STORMINGStage 2: STORMINGDuring the Storming stage:

– Team members realize that the task is more difficult than they imagined.

– Members may be resistant to the task and fall back into their comfort zones.

– Communication is poor with little listening.– Fluctuations in attitude about their chances of

success.– Among the team members there is disunity and

conflict.– Collaboration between members is minimal and

cliques start to appear.

Storming Diagnosis• Do we have common goals and objectives?

• Do we agree on roles and responsibilities? – Use a table to share division of labor

• Do our task, communication, and decision systems work?

• Do we have adequate interpersonal skills?

StormingStorming

Negotiating Conflict• Separate problem issues from people issues.

• Be soft on people, hard on problem.

• Look for underlying needs, goals of each party rather than specific solutions– Find a creative solution that’s good for both

StormingStorming

Addressing the ProblemProblem Solving

• State your views in clear non-judgmental language.

• Clarify the core issues

• Listen carefully to each person’s point of view.

• Check understanding of the disagreement by restating the core issues.

• Use techniques such as circling the group for comments and having some silent thinking time when emotions run high.

StormingStorming

Stage 3: NormingStage 3: Norming• During this stage members accept

– their team– team ground rules– their roles in the team– the individuality of fellow members

• Team members realize that they are not going to drown and start helping each other.

Behaviors• Competitive relationships become more cooperative.

• Willingness to confront issues and solve problems.

• Ability to express criticism constructively.

• More sharing and a sense of team spirit.

NormingNorming

Guide for Giving Constructive Feedback

• When you …. describe behavior • I feel ….. how behavior affects you• Because I … why behavior affects you• (Pause for discussion) …. let other person(s) respond• I would like …. what change would you like• Because …. why change will reduce the problem• What do you think …. Listen to other person’s

response and discuss options

NormingNorming

Giving Constructive Feedback

• Be descriptive

• Don't use labels

• Don’t exaggerate

• Don’t be judgmental

• Speak for yourself

NormingNorming

Giving Constructive Feedback – Contd…

• Talk first about yourself, not about the other person.

• Phrase the issue as a statement, not a question.

• Restrict your feedback to things you know for certain.

• Help people hear and accept your compliments when giving positive feedback.

NormingNorming

Receiving Feedback• Breathe

• Listen carefully

• Ask questions for clarity

• Acknowledge the feedback

• Acknowledge the valid points

• Take time to sort out what you heard

NormingNorming

Stage 4: PERFORMINGStage 4: PERFORMINGTeam members have

– Gained insight into personal and team processes.

– A better understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

– Gained the ability to prevent or work through group conflict and resolve differences.

– Developed a close attachment to the team.

Stage 5: AdjourningStage 5: Adjourning

Major ProcessesTermination of roles; completion of tasks; reduction ofdependency

CharacteristicsDisintegration and withdrawal; increased independenceand emotionality; regret

Recipe for a Successful Team• Commitment to shared goals

and objectives.

• Clearly defined roles and responsibilities– Use best skills of each team

member.– Allows each team member to

develop in all areas.

Recipe for a Successful Team• Effective systems and processes

– Clear communication– Beneficial team behaviors– Well-defined decision procedures– Use of scientific approach– Balanced participation– Established ground rules– Awareness of the group process

Positive Roles in a Team Setting

• Defining issues

• Proposing tasks

• Seeking information and opinions

• Clarifying

• Summarizing

• Compromising; Consensus building

Negative Roles in a Team Setting

• Dominating: asserting superiority

• Withdrawing: not talking; sulking

• Avoiding: skipping meetings

• Degrading: putting down others’ ideas

• Being uncooperative: side conversations

How to Promote Team Success

• Every member must have a common vision of the tasks.

• One way to do this is to develop a Team Performance Agreement.

What is a Team Performance Agreement?

• It is a contract among the team members.

• It is drawn up by the team members.

• It describes the group vision of the shared goals of the team.

• It describes the methods for achieving these shared goals.

• It is dynamic!

The Team Performance Agreement

• Prepare a TPA which addresses all of the following:

A. What is an acceptable outcome? B. How decisions are to be made?C. What happens in cases of disagreement?D. How are roles going to be identified for group

efforts?E. What are the expectations for inter-group

communication?

Do• Allow issues to be resolved

properly and promptly.

• Come prepared/Be on time/Make a contribution.

• Be empowered to represent your organization.

• Express open and honest opinions.

• Encourage participation.

Don’t• Prematurely judge an

idea/thought/concept/proposal.

• Keep members from stating their position/opinion

• Discourage reasoned disagreement

• Withhold information

• WHINE!

TEAMWORK Do's and Don't's

How to be a good team member?

• Be a good listener

• Be honest and open

• Accept other people’s needs

• Don’t be negative

• Don’t be defensive

• Learn to take the initiative

How to be a good team member?

• Become more sensitive to the different ways people communicate

• Take a risk

• See the uniqueness in each team member

• Be trusting-of yourself and responsible

Benefits of team work

• Realistic, achievable goals can be established for the team and individual members.

• Team members commit to support each other.• Team members understand one another’s priorities.• Communication is open.• Problem solving is more effective.• Performance feedback is more meaningful.• Conflict is understood as normal.• Balance is maintained between group productivity.• The team is recognized for outstanding results.• Members are encouraged to test their abilities and try out ideas.• Team members recognize the importance of disciplined work habits.• Learning to work effectively as a team in one unit is good preparation for

working as a team with other units.