TEAMWORK

Everyone has to work together; if we can’t get

everybody working toward common goals,
nothing is going to happen.

-Harold K. Sperlich
Former President, Chrysler Corporation
Coming together is a beginning;
Keeping together is progress;
Working together is success.
-Henry Ford
Characteristics
of
Effective Teams
Positive Interdependence

The group focuses on a common

goal or single product
Individual and Group
Accountability
Each person takes responsibility for
both his or her work and the overall
work of the group
Promotive interaction

The members do real work, usually

face-to-face
Teamwork skills
Each member has and practices
effective communication (especially
careful listening), decision making,
problem solving, conflict
management and leadership
Group processing

The group periodically reflects on

how well the group is working,
celebrates the things that are going
well, and problem-solves the things
that aren’t.
Teamwork skills:
Group norms
Every member is responsible for the


team’s progress and success

Attend all team meetings & be on time


Come prepared

Teamwork skills:
Group norms
Carry out assignments on schedule
Listen to and show respect for the
contributions of other members; be an
active listener
 Constructively criticize ideas, not
persons
Teamwork skills:
Group norms
Resolve conflicts constructively


Pay attention; avoid disruptive behavior



Avoid disruptive side conversation


Teamwork skills:
Group norms
Only one person speaks at a time


Everyone participates; no one dominates



Be succinct; avoid long anecdotes and



examples
Teamwork skills:
Group norms
No rank in the room


Respect those not present



Ask questions when you do not

understand
Teamwork skills:
Group norms
Attend to your personal comfort needs at


any time, but minimize team disruption

Have fun

 Teamwork skills:
Communication
Stop talking


Engage in one conversation at a time



Empathize with the person speaking



Ask questions


Don’t interrupt


Show interest

 Teamwork skills:
Communication
Concentrate on what is being said
Don’t jump to conclusion
Control your anger
React to ideas, not to the speaker
Listen for what is said; ask questions
Share the responsibility for
communication
 Teamwork skills:
Listening techniques
Critical listening


Separate fact from opinion

Sympathetic listening


Don’t talk - listen

Don’t give advice - listen
Don’t judge - listen
 Teamwork skills:
Listening techniques
Creative listening


Exercise an open mind

Supplement your ideas with another
person’s ideas and vice versa
 Top Ten Team Problems
Floundering
How to minimize
Make sure the mission is clear and
everyone understands what is needed to
move forward
 Top Ten Team Problems
Overbearing Experts
How to minimize
Have an agreement among team
members that there are no sacred cows
and that all team members have the right
to explore all areas
 Top Ten Team Problems
Dominating Participants
How to minimize
List “balance of participation” as a
goal and evaluate regularly. Practice
“gate keeping” to limit dominant
participant
 Top Ten Team Problems
Reluctant Participant
How to minimize
Ask opinions of quiet members and
encourage by validation. Require
individual assignments and reports
 Top Ten Team Problems
Unquestioned acceptance of
opinion
How to minimize
Ask for supporting data and
reasoning. Accept and encourage
conflicting ideas
 Top Ten Team Problems
Rush to Accomplishment
How to minimize
Confront those doing the rushing
and remind them not to compromise the
best solution. Make sure a consensus is
reached
 Top Ten Team Problems
Attribution of Motives to Others
How to minimize
Reaffirm agreement that the group
sticks to the scientific approach. Ask for
confirmation of data
 Top Ten Team Problems
Discounting or Ignoring Group
Member’s Statement
How to minimize
Provide training in effective listening.
Support the discounted person. Talk 0ff-
line with any one who continually
discounts other team members
 Top Ten Team Problems
Wanderlust: Digression and
Tangents
How to minimize
Follow the agenda with time
estimates. Keep the topics in full view of
the team and direct the conversation back
to the topic
 Top Ten Team Problems
Feuding Team Members
How to minimize
Focus on ideas, not personalities.
Get adversaries to discuss the issues off-
line or get them to agree to a standard of
behavior during meetings