The Role of
Human Resources in
Building Effective Teams
Seonaid Charlesworth, Ph.D. BC HRMA Conference
April 15, 2014
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Today’s Agenda
Building Healthy Teams
• Team Effectiveness Vs. Team Building
• Diagnosing Common Team Dysfunctions
• Anatomy of a Healthy Team
• Building Alignment and Dynamic - Steps to a more Effective Team
Teams are Here to Stay
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“In a recent Knightsbridge survey of 50
major organizations across different
sectors, 89% of respondents said that
teams will be even more important in
the future than they are today.”
What’s Wrong with Team Building?
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http://changeyourteam.com/whats-wrong-with-teambuilding/
The Knightsbridge Approach
Building the Team’s Capacity
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© Weiss, Molinaro & Davey (2007) – Leadership Solutions (Jossey-Bass)
Future External
Environment
Future Strategic
Response
Future Team
Requirements
Current Team
Requirements
Current External
Environment
Current Strategic
Response
The mandate and value add of the Team is a function of the business environment and the overall Organizational strategy.
3 Dimensions of Team Effectiveness
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Enhancing the effectiveness of the team requires not only individual change, but
also attention to the formal process and implicit culture of the team.
© Weiss, Molinaro & Davey (2007) – Leadership Solutions (Jossey-Bass)
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Realize the Full Value of Teams
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Personal growth
Improved alignment & dynamic
Diagnosing Common Team Dysfunctions
Alig
nm
en
t
Dynamic
Vital Team
Toxic Team
Unrealized Potential
Failure Path #1 Unsustainable
Failure Path #2 Unproductive
Toxic or Vital?
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What are the Characteristics?
Team
Ali
gn
men
t
Team Dynamic
Vital Team
Toxic Team
Unsustainable Team
Unproductive Team
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Common Team Ailments with Liane Davey
Show Video
Where is Your Team Today? (Diagnostic)
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Team
Ali
gn
men
t
Team Dynamic
Vital Team
Toxic Team
Unsustainable Team
Unproductive Team
Anatomy of a Healthy Team
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A Healthy Team – Team Alignment
A high degree of team alignment and dynamic leads to a productive team that is
able to deliver on its mandate.
Team
Ali
gn
men
t
Vital Team
Toxic Team
Unrealized Potential
Failure Path #1 Unsustainable
Failure Path #2 Unproductive
Team Dynamic
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A Healthy Team – Team Dynamic
A high degree of team alignment and dynamic leads to a vital team.
Team
Ali
gn
men
t
Vital Team
Toxic Team
Unrealized Potential
Failure Path #1 Unsustainable
Failure Path #2 Unproductive
Team Dynamic
Building Alignment and Dynamic
for a More Effective Team
4 Steps to a More Effective Team
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1. Understand the
purpose of the team
Define the team’s value proposition and how it fits into the overall business plan of the organization
2. Understand default
styles
Drill deeper into understanding the actual team members
3.
Address
Opportunities and
Weaknesses
Guide the team through productively venting their frustrations
4. Develop Sustaining
Mechanisms
Help sustain the new behaviours so the team members don’t regress and fall back into old habits
Unique Value & Mandate
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Unique Value and Creating the Mandate
• Why do we exist as a team?
• What is the organization counting on us to do?
• What are the few key things we need to own and drive together?
• What is the relationship between this team and the extended team?
Warning!
Avoid listing departmental or individual accountabilities Focus on why the team exists
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Why the Mandate Matters
An example from a Portfolio Analysis Team at an investment company:
By integrating diverse information about the global
economy, market trends, and asset performance,
we provide guidance on buy/sell decisions to
support our investment departments in optimizing
the long-term performance of our funds.
Two Truths
In business, the reality is there is often two truths (or more!)
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My objectives
Their objectives
Common Ground
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5 Ground Rules Exhibited by Healthy
Teams
1. Start with a positive assumption
2. Add your full value
3. Amplify other voices
4. Know when to say no
5. Keep conflict healthy
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From: I.M. Outtagetcha To: Seonaid Charlesworth Subject: Your presentation I reviewed the draft you sent. I caught a couple of errors and have some ideas about how to improve the presentation. I’ll come to your office at 3:00 to discuss. Regards, I.M. Outtagetcha
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From: I.M. Hereforyou To: Seonaid Charlesworth Subject: Your presentation I reviewed the draft you sent. I caught a couple of errors and have some ideas about how to improve the presentation. I’ll come to your office at 3:00 to discuss. Regards, I.M. Hereforyou
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5 Ground Rules Exhibited by Healthy
Teams
1. Start with a positive assumption
2. Add your full value
3. Amplify other voices
4. Know when to say no
5. Keep conflict healthy
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Embrace Productive Conflict
Show Video
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Team Effectiveness Action Plan
Vital Teams Process
The Vital Teams™ Process…
Module 1:
Anatomy of a
Healthy Team Align team activities and outcomes to your business strategy
Module 2:
Side Effects Create insights about individual styles that improve team dynamics
Module 3:
Common Team
Dysfunctions Develop better ways of working as a team
Module 4:
Back in Action Sustain effective team practices long after the facilitator is gone
Prework:
Birkman™
Assessment and
1:1 Debrief
Prework:
Individual
Interviews
The Vital TeamsTM process is designed to anchor the team mandate before
delving into individual behaviour and then the organizational and cultural
context.
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Ability to
handle
difficult
situations
Improved & Sustained
Performance Sustainable
tools and
processes
Team
enforces new
behaviour
The Result
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Resources
Please leave your business card for a copy of the each of these eBooks:
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http://changeyourteam.com/
http://thecommunityofleaders.com/