Building Building TeamsTeams

TIPS #11TIPS #11

Characteristics of Characteristics of Effective TeamsEffective Teams

• Small SizeSmall Size

• Complimentary SkillsComplimentary Skills

• Common PurposeCommon Purpose

• Specific GoalsSpecific Goals

• Common ApproachCommon Approach

• Mutual AccountabilityMutual Accountability

Obstacles to Effective Obstacles to Effective TeamsTeams

• Weak sense of directionWeak sense of direction

• InfightingInfighting

• Shirking of responsibilitiesShirking of responsibilities

• Lack of trustLack of trust

• Critical skills gapsCritical skills gaps

• Lack of external supportLack of external support

Overcoming the ObstaclesOvercoming the Obstacles

• Create clear goalsCreate clear goals• Encourage teams to go for small winsEncourage teams to go for small wins• build mutual trustbuild mutual trust• Appraise both group & individual Appraise both group & individual

performanceperformance• Provide the necessary external supportProvide the necessary external support• Offer team-building trainingOffer team-building training• Change the team’s membershipChange the team’s membership

Effective Team Building RequiresEffective Team Building Requires• Establishing a common purposeEstablishing a common purpose

• Assessing team strengths & weaknessesAssessing team strengths & weaknesses

• Developing specific individual goalsDeveloping specific individual goals

• Getting agreement on a common approach for achieving goalsGetting agreement on a common approach for achieving goals

• Encouraging acceptance of accountability for both individual & Encouraging acceptance of accountability for both individual & team performanceteam performance

• Building mutual trust among membersBuilding mutual trust among members

• Maintaining an appropriate mix of team member skills & Maintaining an appropriate mix of team member skills & personalitiespersonalities

• Providing needed training & resourcesProviding needed training & resources

• Creating opportunities for small achievementsCreating opportunities for small achievements

Role PlayingRole Playing

Aka practiceAka practice

Round 1Round 1Group A

Group B

Group C

Round 2Round 2 Round 3Round 3Group A

Group B

Group C

Group A

Group B

Group C

Work Group

Observer

Observer

Work Group

Observer

Observer

Work Group

Observer

Observer

TimingTiming

• You will have 25 minutes for You will have 25 minutes for each round …each round …

–15 minutes discuss the 15 minutes discuss the situationsituation

–10 minutes for the observer 10 minutes for the observer to provide feedbackto provide feedback

The Three ExercisesThe Three Exercises

• Team building post-merger (case)Team building post-merger (case)

• Create a list -- desirable team Create a list -- desirable team MEMBER characteristicsMEMBER characteristics

• Create a list -- desirable team Create a list -- desirable team LEADER characteristicsLEADER characteristics

QuestionsQuestions

Exercise 1Exercise 1

• All of us will read the caseAll of us will read the case

• The volunteer group will hold the The volunteer group will hold the meeting to discuss the situation, meeting to discuss the situation, while the rest of us observewhile the rest of us observe

• Following the group’s discussion, Following the group’s discussion, the rest of us will give the group the rest of us will give the group feedback based on the observer feedback based on the observer rating sheets providedrating sheets provided

Numero-Uno Observer SheetNumero-Uno Observer Sheet• Question 1. Was Numero-Uno’s executive teamQuestion 1. Was Numero-Uno’s executive team

– committed to a common purpose?committed to a common purpose?– have a set of specific performance goals?have a set of specific performance goals?– hold themselves mutual accountable for the team’s hold themselves mutual accountable for the team’s

results?results?– have complementary or competing/redundant skills?have complementary or competing/redundant skills?

• If the answers to these questions are “yes,” If the answers to these questions are “yes,” Numero-Uno is a team. If the answers are “no,”, Numero-Uno is a team. If the answers are “no,”, it is not.it is not.

Questions 2 & 3Questions 2 & 3

• To become a team, suggestions for Numero-Uno should have includedTo become a team, suggestions for Numero-Uno should have included– Establish a common purpose for the executive teamEstablish a common purpose for the executive team– Assess Numero-Uno’s team strengths & weaknessesAssess Numero-Uno’s team strengths & weaknesses– Develop specific goals for individual team membersDevelop specific goals for individual team members– Obtain agreement to a common approach for achieving goalsObtain agreement to a common approach for achieving goals– Get acceptance of accountability for both individual & team Get acceptance of accountability for both individual & team

performanceperformance– Build mutual trust among membersBuild mutual trust among members– Maintain an appropriate mix of team member skills & personalitiesMaintain an appropriate mix of team member skills & personalities– Provide needed training & resourcesProvide needed training & resources– Create Opportunities for small achievementsCreate Opportunities for small achievements

Exercise 2Exercise 2• The volunteer group will hold the meeting to The volunteer group will hold the meeting to

discuss the situation, while the rest of us observediscuss the situation, while the rest of us observe• Following the group’s discussion, the rest of us Following the group’s discussion, the rest of us

will give the group feedback based on the will give the group feedback based on the observer rating sheets providedobserver rating sheets provided

• Create list of 10 desirable team MEMBER Create list of 10 desirable team MEMBER characteristicscharacteristics

• Rank order these characteristics according to Rank order these characteristics according to their importancetheir importance

Observer’s Rating SheetObserver’s Rating Sheet• Establishes its common purposeEstablishes its common purpose

• Assesses team-member strengths & weaknessesAssesses team-member strengths & weaknesses

• Develops specific individual goalsDevelops specific individual goals

• Agrees to a common approach for achieving goalsAgrees to a common approach for achieving goals

• Members accept accountability for both individual & team Members accept accountability for both individual & team performanceperformance

• Builds mutual trust among membersBuilds mutual trust among members

• Accommodates its mix of team member skills & personalitiesAccommodates its mix of team member skills & personalities

• Asks questions & provides guidelines regarding case information Asks questions & provides guidelines regarding case information & team process& team process

• Creates opportunities for small achievementsCreates opportunities for small achievements

Exercise 3Exercise 3• The volunteer group will hold the meeting to The volunteer group will hold the meeting to

discuss the situation, while the rest of us observediscuss the situation, while the rest of us observe• Following the group’s discussion, the rest of us Following the group’s discussion, the rest of us

will give the group feedback based on the will give the group feedback based on the observer rating sheets providedobserver rating sheets provided

• Create list of 10 desirable team LEADER Create list of 10 desirable team LEADER characteristicscharacteristics

• Rank order these characteristics according to Rank order these characteristics according to their importancetheir importance

Observer’s Rating SheetObserver’s Rating Sheet• Establishes its common purposeEstablishes its common purpose

• Assesses team-member strengths & weaknessesAssesses team-member strengths & weaknesses

• Develops specific individual goalsDevelops specific individual goals

• Agrees to a common approach for achieving goalsAgrees to a common approach for achieving goals

• Members accept accountability for both individual & team Members accept accountability for both individual & team performanceperformance

• Builds mutual trust among membersBuilds mutual trust among members

• Accommodates its mix of team member skills & personalitiesAccommodates its mix of team member skills & personalities

• Asks questions & provides guidelines regarding case information Asks questions & provides guidelines regarding case information & team process& team process

• Creates opportunities for small achievementsCreates opportunities for small achievements