BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE TEAM

Dr. Evie Wibowo Iman

What is a Team?

A team is a unit of two or more people who work together to achieve a goal. Team members share a mission and the responsibility to achieve it.

Characteristics of Effective Teams

• Clear Unity of Purpose• Clear Goals• Attitude Are Everything• Communication is Key to Success• Leadership

Unity of Purpose

• Team member agree on what they want to accomplish

• Make a commitment to achieve• Agree on how the team will operate – expectations,

responsibilities, resources• Open truthful communication• Evaluates how well the team is doing in achieving the

goal

Clear Goals

• What is the mission, values and purpose?• Why are we here and what do we want to

accomplish?• What are the “small battles” along the way to

winning the “big war”?• How does the team know when they are

successful?

Communication Is Key

• Every Idea is Open for Discussion• No Negativism towards Ideas or Viewpoints• “Save Environment” for discussion of all ideas

and viewpoints• Disagreement is Good and Productive• Listening, Hearing and Understanding are the

Key to REAL Communication

Leadership

• All effective teams require a leader.• Issue is NOT “ Who is in Control?”• Issue IS “How do we get the job done?”• Successful team leaders demonstrate the

ability to listen to other team members first, then share there points of view.

• Facilitation is vital communication tool for effective team leaders.

Effective Team members

• Understand, support and “own” the goals• Listens to all team members• Views conflict as use and necessary• Trusts team members• Respects differences and values diversity• Tries for consensus• Knows and uses the resources of the team

Consensus is……

• A proposal, idea, solution or viewpoint that is acceptable enough that all members of the team can support it, live with it, buy into it; AND NO member of the team opposes it

Consensus Is NOT…..

• Unanimous vote• Majority vote• Everyone getting 100% of what they “want”

Consensus Requires…..

• Time• ACTIVE Team Participants• Skilled Communication by All team members• Open minds and Creative thinking

Skilled Communication Requires

• Listening & Learning, Active Listening• Giving and Receiving Feedback• Valuing People• Embracing and Leveraging Diversity• Facilitation, Coaching and Mentoring

Tools for Successful Teams

• Project Planning / Problem Solving• Conflict Management• Performance Assessment• Dealing with Change• Celebrating Success

Advantages

Information & knowledge

Diversity of views

Acceptance of solutions

Performance

Disadvantages

Groupthink

Hidden agendas

Free riders

High costs

From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Overview of Teams

EffectiveTeams

CollaborativeRelationships

EffectiveTeams

CollaborativeRelationships

ClearPurpose

ClearPurpose

CreativeThinkingCreativeThinking

FocusedEffortsFocusedEfforts

OpenCommunication

OpenCommunication

ConflictResolution

ConflictResolution

ConsensusDecisionMaking

ConsensusDecisionMaking

From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Focus

Procedures

Participation

Closing

Follow-Up

EffectiveMeetings

From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Conflicting GoalsConflicting Goals

Power StrugglesPower Struggles

Attitudes and ValuesAttitudes and Values

Poor CommunicationPoor Communication

Task ResponsibilitiesTask Responsibilities

Scarce ResourcesScarce Resources

From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Conflict in Teams

Express understanding

Raise awareness

Evaluate objections

Refuse arguments

From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Overcoming Resistance

Commitment

Connections

Change ManagementConflict

Management

Cooperation

Communication

Contribution

Suzanne Willis Zoglio, 7 Keys to Building Great Workteams

Effective Team

THANK YOU