Considerations of Teamwork

1. Considerations of Teamwork David Cross, Anthony Johnson, Carey Jordan, Bryant Ketchersid OMGT 320 – Managing Group Dynamics March 23, 2014

2. Overview • Importance of Teamwork • Types of Teams • Critical Considerations for Self Directed Teams • Maximizing Creativity in Teams • Benefits and Challenges presented by Team Member Diversity • How Leadership Style Can Impact Team Effectiveness • Final Thoughts

3. Importance of Teamwork • Effective teamwork has been responsible for great human achievement • Teamwork can take many different shapes and styles • Knowledge of how teams operate will increase chances of creating a cohesive team • Managing different types of teams requires different skillsets

4. Types of Teams

5. Parallel Teams • Parallel teams are teams that function in parallel to other responsibilities. • Example: A production manager who is asked to be a part of a multi-department team to cut organization costs • This team is in addition to his regular job duties • Low degree of authority • High level of management involvement

6. Self-Directed Work Teams • Self-directed teams direct and manage themselves • Full control over decision making and resource use • All members share responsibility • Challenges: • High Costs • Time-consuming

7. Problem Solving Teams • Problem solving teams are teams that are set up to solve a specific problem. • Sole purpose is to determine solutions • Can be long or short-term teams • Length and level of involvement depends on complexity of the problem • Very common in today’s workplace

8. Virtual Team • Virtual teams use technology to “meet” and communicate • Examples of technology used: • E-mail • Video Conferencing • Texting • Cloud technology • Fastest growing type of team in business environment • Biggest challenge is developing trust

9. Critical Considerations for Self Directed Teams

10. Critical Considerations Overview • Self directed teams require a strong group dynamic • It is easy for these teams to go off course • Internal personality conflicts can sink a team that has no outside control • Decision making will take longer; groups have to build consensus • Communication is key to group success

11. Personality Conflicts • Self directed teams require the right mix of personalities • A strong personality can make or break the team dynamic • Balance is required to ensure the team stays on course • Teams need a strong arbitration method to settle an internal conflict

12. Decision Making • Self Directed teams have a more circular decision making process • Most decisions need to be vetted by all team members • Circuitous process takes more time to come to decisions • Process is easier disrupted than in groups with vertical decision chain

13. Effective Group Communication • Self Directed teams manage their own goals and processes; effective communication is necessary • Constant feedback can be used to address most issues • Self assessments need to be accomplished to ensure goals are being met • Consensus is easier built if all members have the relevant information

14. Maximizing Creativity in Teams • What is creativity and how does it pertain to team? • Creativity in a team or group setting is a thought process that provokes change from norms to solve problems and innovate ideas.

15. Tools for Maximizing Creativity • Idea Needlers • Manipulative verbs • Association and Metaphors • Analogy

16. Tools for Maximizing Creativity Idea Needlers

17. Tools for Maximizing Creativity • Manipulative verbs Modify Adapt Maximize Alter

18. Tools for Maximizing Creativity • Association and Metaphors

19. Tools for Maximizing Creativity • Analogy

20. Benefits and Challenges Presented by Team Member Diversity

21. Benefits Diversity brings new ideas and promotes creativity Provides a avenue to keep things fresh Enhances team effectiveness and accomplishments Promotes a value of shared life experiences Dispels myth of same color same mindset theory Contributes to a team having different perspectives

22. Challenges Creates an environment of misunderstanding Creates a communication barrier with team members Assumptions are made that people from different cultures don’t share same values Generalized statements become offensive language Slows down team effectiveness and creativity

23. How Leadership Style Can Impact Team Effectiveness • Three types of leadership styles: • Leader-as-Technician • Leader-as-Conductor • Leader-as-Coach

24. Leader as Technician Style used when stakes are not high or little importance Effective when specialized knowledge or experience is needed Team tends to rely on one member for answers Not good for issues that have a broad range of topics May promote a culture of team members feeling disempowered

25. Leader as a Conductor Requires a lot of trust in team members May lead to leaders becoming micromanagers Leaders may distrust people involved in execution phase Causes members to lose their motivation toward a project Sometimes done by leaders to “cover their assets”

26. Leader as a Coach Requires the most patience Explains and demonstrates versus ordering or cajoling Provides feedback to individuals vs just telling them what to do Promotes an environment of shared ideas and values Empowers team members to make their own decisions Focuses on positive solutions rather than problems

27. Final Thoughts

28. References • Corbell, T. (n.d.). BP crisis management, PR misfires — a Case Study. • Harris, T. E., & Sherblom, J. C. (2011). Small group and team communication. Boston: Pearson. • Jones, G. (2013). Organizational theory, design, and change. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. • Riggio, R. (2012, Oct 7). What Is charisma and charismatic leadership? Retrieved from Psychology Today