2. 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.
3. Characteristics of Effective Teams
• Clear Unity of Purpose
• Clear Goals
• Attitude Are Everything
• Communication is Key to Success
• Leadership
4. 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
5. 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?
6. 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
7. 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.
8. 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
9. 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
10. Consensus Is NOT…..
• Unanimous vote
• Majority vote
• Everyone getting 100% of what they “want”
11. Consensus Requires…..
• Time
• ACTIVE Team Participants
• Skilled Communication by All team members
• Open minds and Creative thinking
12. Skilled Communication Requires
• Listening & Learning, Active Listening
• Giving and Receiving Feedback
• Valuing People
• Embracing and Leveraging Diversity
• Facilitation, Coaching and Mentoring
13. Tools for Successful Teams
• Project Planning / Problem Solving
• Conflict Management
• Performance Assessment
• Dealing with Change
• Celebrating Success
14. 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
17. Conflicting Goals
Power Struggles
Attitudes and Values
Poor Communication
Task Responsibilities
Scarce Resources
From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003
Conflict in Teams
18. Express understanding
Raise awareness
Evaluate objections
Refuse arguments
From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003
Overcoming Resistance
