BS B WO R 5 0 2 LEA D A N D

M A N A G E T EA M
EF F EC T IV EN ES S
Develop strategies to ensure team members have input into planning, decision making and operational aspects of work
team

Team cohesion is a critical factor in building effective teams – but it won’t just happen. Cohesion will come as the team
matures and evolves into an effective team. Involvement and consensus on objectives will provide a foundation for the further
development of team cohesion. A characteristic of a mature team is that its team members understand one another’s
strengths and weaknesses and issues can be openly discussed in a mature non-threatening environment. Input from team
members is always welcome. The team environment is one of the support for one another and for the team leader.
/
Feedback from a manager or team leader must be always be constructive. Communication between team members must be
open, honest and straightforward. The need to play politics becomes obsolete. An open acceptance and responsibility for each
person’s job role will assure that quality work is passed onto other team members. ‘It’s not my job’ will no longer be heard in
an effective workplace team.

TOPIC 2 – DEVELOP AND FACILITATE

TEAM COHESION
 Participation is a
Major Team
Concept
Team members want to contribute to team
direction and planning in an environment
where communication is free and open.
Input is so valuable to the team. Without
new ideas and concepts teams will stagnate.
There will always be a better way of
achieving team outcomes.
A variety of strategies can be employed to
give team members fee; that they have not
contributed to the planning process, it will
be hard form them to take ownership of the
operational strategies that will follow. Some
strategies will also build cohesion as well as
facilitate input. Strong bonds will form when
team members get together for problem-
solving sessions.

(http://www.terrapinadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/Relationship-Pyramid-300x300.png)
 Teams will need to meet on a regular basis. Unfortunately meetings have developed a reputation as time-wasting
activities. Keep in mind that meetings are very expensive activities when one considers the cost of labour for the meeting
and how much can or cannot get done in them. So, take meeting management very seriously. It is true many meetings
can be non-productive ‘talkfests’ with no real outcomes or direction, but this need not be so. Good meetings will thrash
out problems, focus the team and share vital information with all team members.

AA good meeting will be an opportunity

opportunity for mass communication and results. A newly formed team team will struggle
struggle initially with meetings but
as the team develops meetings will become more productive. When the minutes are are read they
they must
must reflect that information has been
shared, discussion has flowed
flowed freely and decisions have
have been made on shared data. A mature team will carry complex issues over several
meetings. Participation from all team members is a must. A good chairperson will utilise questioning and inquiry techniques to involve all
team members.
members. The golden rule
rule in
in all types of group communication is ‘there is no such thing as a silly comment’. In many cases the best
ideas will come
come from team members who may feel intimidated in group meeting situations. Reticent team members must be identified
quickly and made to feel comfortable at
at meetings.
meetings.

Teams Will Need to Meet Often

 Develop Everybody becomes accountable in a team environment. Once
responsibilities have been allocated and accepted the team
Strategies to should progress toward meeting team goals. It is imperative that
for accountability to be accepted, a clear understanding of who
Ensure Team will do what and when is required. Effective team members will
Members Have embrace accountability and strive to achieve team objectives.
They will also have an intimate understanding of where and
Input into when their roles integrate to achieve objectives.

Planning,
Decision Making
and Operational
Aspects of Work
Team
(https://www.linkagoal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/shutterstock_137341871-Converted.jpg)
 Policies and procedures need to be documented and
made available to employees thus becoming an
integral aspect of your organisation’s communication
All managers should be involved in the creation,
process. Often such policies and procedures exist but
implementation and review of policies and procedures
staff are unaware of them. It is important that these
as they relate to team leaders and team members
become useful working documents which support
taking responsibilities for their own work. These
team member’s responsibilities. With such a
procedures will also identify where assistance from
framework in place, there is less likelihood of staff
team members is required. Many effective managers
digressing from responsibilities because they are aware
would comment that if it’s not subject to a procedure it
of what is required. All too often it is uncertainty that
will become overlooked.
slows down processes. When we have a ‘map’ of what
is required we are able to steer a path through our
work.

What Procedures to Use

 Provide Feedback to
Team Members to
Encourage, Value and
Reward Individual and
Team Efforts and
Contributions
Feedback is empowering.
Providing prompt, accurate
and adequate feedback about
the outcomes of team
participation and effort is an
essential part of
encouragement and reward
and should form the basis for
further improvement and
direction. Feedback should
leave all parties with a sense
of respect and empowerment.

(https://blog.toasttab.com/hubfs/Blog_Post_Images/Restaurant_Customer_Complaints.png)
 360 Degree
Feedback
360 degree feedback will include all
the following variations:
◦ Team leader to team member
◦ Team member to team
member
◦ Manager to team leader
◦ Team member to manager
◦ Manager to manager
◦ Senior management to line
manager.

(http://thecontextofthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/slide360.png)
Develop
Processes to
Teams and team members
will always have concerns and
In all cases, they will assist in
problems about everyday
Ensure that workplace issues. Managers
and team leaders will need to
solving team member issues.
A team member must always

Issues, adopt policies and systems

where problems can be
be given the opportunity to
raise concerns otherwise

Concerns and recognised and dealt with.

Sometimes specialist
issues will create ‘mountain
out of molehills’ in the team

Problems
member’s mind. In most
personnel may need to be
cases, when issues are raised
involved. These workplace
solutions are easily found.
Identified by specialists may be human
resource managers,
Nothing is more frustrating
for team members to feel
Team Members occupational health and
safety officers or specially
they can’t ‘talk to somebody’
about an issue that is
are Recognised trained contact officers in
equal employment
worrying them.

and Addressed
opportunity.