Communicating in Teams

1. Communicating in Teams Lina Melkonian SJSU Career Center

2. Top Skills Sought By Recruiters • Communication— Oral/Written • Interpersonal/Social • Critical Thinking • Leadership • Teamwork Business Communications Quarterly, Volume 65, March 2002, pages 21-36

3. Teambuilding Lessons From Geese • Why do geese fly in a V formation? • What happens when a goose falls out of formation? • What happens when the lead goose gets tired? • Why do geese in formation honk from behind? • What happens when a goose gets sick or wounded?

4. Communicating in Teams 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. From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

5. Communicating in Teams Types of Workplace Teams Problem Solving Taskforces Committees Virtual Teams From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

6. Communicating in Teams Overview of Teams Advantages Disadvantages • Information & knowledge • Diversity of views • Acceptance of solutions • Performance • Groupthink • Hidden agendas • Free riders • High costs From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

7. Communicating in Teams Group Dynamics Rules Norms Identity From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

8. Communicating in Teams Team Decision Making • Orientation • Conflict • Brainstorming • Emergence • Reinforcement From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

9. Communicating in Teams Roles People Play in Groups Self- Oriented Group- Maintenance Task- Facilitating • Controlling • Withdrawing • Attention Seeking • Diverting • Encouraging • Harmonizing • Compromising • Initiating • Information Seeking • Coordinating • Procedure Setting From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

10. Communicating in Teams Being a Facilitator is like being a Referee Facilitators focus on the process the team is using to get results. On effective teams, every member feels responsible for the process, not just the leader. A facilitator like a referee, makes sure the team operates in an organized manner. A referee does not supervise team strategies, but rather makes sure that the teams are observing the rules of the game. Making sure that the team is operating in a fair, organized and respectful manner is called facilitation, and it is the responsibility of all team members.

11. Communicating in Teams Team Leadership As employers reduce their layers of management and as companies become flatter, individual contributors are increasingly asked to lead teams. Leaders Lead, Don’t Rule! Successful team leaders demonstrate the ability to listen to other team members first, then share their points of view. Team Leaders Are Great Facilitators Facilitation is a vital communication tool for effective team leaders.

12. Communicating in Teams Clear Purpose Effective Teams Collaborative Relationships Open Communication Creative Thinking Consensus Decision Making Focused Efforts Conflict Resolution From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

13. Communicating in Teams Conflict in Teams Scarce Resources Task Responsibilities Poor Communication Attitudes and Values Power Struggles Conflicting Goals From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

14. Communicating in Teams Resolving Conflict Proaction Fairness Research Communication Alliance Flexibility Openness From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

15. Communicating in Teams Overcoming Resistance • Express understanding • Raise awareness • Evaluate objections • Withhold arguments From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

16. Communicating in Teams Purpose Participants PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS Agenda Location From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

17. Communicating in Teams Focus Effective Meetings Procedures Participation Closing Follow-Up From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

18. Three Types Of Listening Purpose and Feedback Content Listening Critical Listening Empathetic Listening Communicating in Teams From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

19. Prejudgment Self- Centeredness Selective Listening Communicating in Teams Barriers to Listening From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

20. Communicating in Teams Check Points for Meeting Facilitators • Is this discussion being productive? • Are agreements being reached? • Are new ideas being generated? • Are people understanding each other? • What is being committed to? • What is the best use of the group’s time now? • Are we meeting the objectives of the meeting? Bruce Withrow, Conversation Types, Affinity Consulting

21. Honesty Reliability Efficiency Communicating in Teams Nonverbal Communication From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

22. Types of Nonverbal Communication Facial Expressions Gestures and Posture Use of Time and Space Vocal Characteristics Touching Behavior Personal Appearance Communicating in Teams From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

23. Communicating in Teams Commitment Communication Contribution Cooperation Change Management Conflict Management Connections Suzanne Willis Zoglio, 7 Keys to Building Great Workteams