The Dream Team

• A team has several defining characteristics:– Small group of

individuals.– Individuals provide

different complimentary skills

– Work actively together– Common Purpose– Collectively Accountable

Types of Teams

• There are three basic forms/functions of teams:– Teams that recommend

things– Teams that run things– Team s that make things

or do things

Recommend Things

• Characteristics for Teams that Recommend Things:– Specific Problems– Recommend specific

solutions– Completion Date

• Generally, disband once problem/project has been resolved

Run Things

• Characteristics for Teams that Run Things:– Responsibility to lead

others– Come in many different

forms– Complex Problems/

Uncertain situations• Creating Strategies• Supporting Others• Create Goals, Values, and

Purpose

Make or Do Things• Characteristics for

teams that make or do things:– Perform ongoing tasks– Long Term Relationships– Strong Operating System– High demands

The Nature of Teamwork• Teamwork- Members of a team

actively working together in a way that utilizes all their respective skills, and helps them achieve a common goal.

• Individuals show commitement to the team through:– Believing in the TEAM– Coming to work motivated– Listening– Constructively Responding

"One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team" - Kareem Abdul Jabbar

The Nature of Teamwork• Successful teams possess a

wide variety of skills:– Technical– Problem- Solving– Decision Making

• Teams instill a commitment to achieve performance standards by:– Setting specific goals– Creating Strong Values– Providing a sense of purpose

Diversity & Team Performance• Benefits of Homogeneous

Teams:– Quickly build relationships– Improved communication– Less conflict

• Negatives of Homogeneous Teams:– Limited ideas– Less creativity– Biased

• Ethnocentric

Diversity & Team Performance• Benefits of

Heterogeneous Teams:– More information– Unique Perspectives– Variety of skills and talents– Creativity

• Negatives of Heterogeneous Teams:– Slow startup – Relationship Building– Interpersonal conflicts