Team Working AQS Presentation

Definition Team working is about working co-operatively, across cultures and organizational boundaries to achieve shared goals

Team working is about working co-operatively, across cultures and organizational boundaries to achieve shared goals

Why is it important? The British council works across departments, organizations and cultures. Within the council, staff must work co-operatively together sharing best practice, breaking down departmental barriers, and communicating fully on new initiatives and priorities. The same applies to working with the UK constituency. Overseas, the ability to build on inter-cultural understanding to create dynamic local partnerships ensures that the council really understands and meets the needs of its target audiences.

The British council works across departments, organizations and cultures. Within the council, staff must work co-operatively together sharing best practice, breaking down departmental barriers, and communicating fully on new initiatives and priorities. The same applies to working with the UK constituency. Overseas, the ability to build on inter-cultural understanding to create dynamic local partnerships ensures that the council really understands and meets the needs of its target audiences.

Levels of Team working Level 1 Works Co-operatively Level 2 Involves Others Level 3 Builds The Team Level 4 Creates Team working

Level 1

Works Co-operatively

Level 2

Involves Others

Level 3

Builds The Team

Level 4

Creates Team working

Level 1 – Works Co-operatively Willingly co-operates. Is not afraid to seek advice from others. Puts in extra effort when needed to help others. Recognizes that the ways of getting things done in different departments, organizations and communities are not the same.

Willingly co-operates.

Is not afraid to seek advice from others.

Puts in extra effort when needed to help others.

Recognizes that the ways of getting things done in different departments, organizations and communities are not the same.

Level 2 – Involves Others Actively includes individuals from diverse backgrounds in team activities. Capitalizes on diverse skills and ideas. Spends time helping others think through issues. Speaks positively of others. Takes the time to learn about and understand other organizations and cultures.

Actively includes individuals from diverse backgrounds in team activities.

Capitalizes on diverse skills and ideas.

Spends time helping others think through issues.

Speaks positively of others.

Takes the time to learn about and understand other organizations and cultures.

Level 3 – Builds The Team Proactively shares information and learning with colleagues. Addresses conflicts or issues within the team in a positive and open manner. Provides clear feedback to team members. Uses understanding of different interests and agendas to achieve positive outcomes. Uses emotional intelligence to understand team dynamics and to harmonize and synergize energies of the team

Proactively shares information and learning with colleagues.

Addresses conflicts or issues within the team in a positive and open manner.

Provides clear feedback to team members.

Uses understanding of different interests and agendas to achieve positive outcomes.

Uses emotional intelligence to understand team dynamics and to harmonize and synergize energies of the team

Level 4 – Creates Team working Creates new opportunities for individuals to work together, breaking down barriers that may get in the way of effective teamworking. Challenges others to do the same. Is a model of co-operative behavior. Commits time and resources to team-based projects.

Creates new opportunities for individuals to work together, breaking down barriers that may get in the way of effective teamworking.

Challenges others to do the same.

Is a model of co-operative behavior.

Commits time and resources to team-based projects.

Warning Signs Sees him or herself as better than others and fails to respect their contribution. Keeps important information to him-or herself or within the immediate department. Assumes all cultures or communities are the same Co-operates selectively in accordance with his or her own personal interests. Talks patronizingly to or about other departments or individuals.

Sees him or herself as better than others and fails to respect their contribution.

Keeps important information to him-or herself or within the immediate department.

Assumes all cultures or communities are the same

Co-operates selectively in accordance with his or her own personal interests.

Talks patronizingly to or about other departments or individuals.

Positive Indicators Agrees with the team critical success factors for the team as a whole, and brainstorms ways in which these can be measured. Develops the habit of checking what others are thinking by asking ‘Am I being clear?’ ‘Let me check what you are thinking at this stage’ Treats the concerns of other departments as important. Co-operates to meet team goals even at expense of personal preferences. Recognizes the need for flexibility and sensitivity in dealing with cross-cultural issues.

Agrees with the team critical success factors for the team as a whole, and brainstorms ways in which these can be measured.

Develops the habit of checking what others are thinking by asking ‘Am I being clear?’ ‘Let me check what you are thinking at this stage’

Treats the concerns of other departments as important.

Co-operates to meet team goals even at expense of personal preferences.

Recognizes the need for flexibility and sensitivity in dealing with cross-cultural issues.

Team Building Exercises

Helium Stick Summary Deceptively simple teamwork activity. Form two lines facing each other. Lay a long, thin rod on the group's index fingers. Goal: Lower to ground. Reality: It goes up! Group Size 8 to 12 ideal, but can be done with 6 to 14 Time Total time ~25 mins ~5 minute briefing and set up ~10-15 minutes of active problem-solving (until success) ~10 minutes discussion

Summary

Deceptively simple teamwork activity. Form two lines facing each other. Lay a long, thin rod on the group's index fingers. Goal: Lower to ground. Reality: It goes up!

Group Size

8 to 12 ideal, but can be done with 6 to 14

Time

Total time ~25 mins ~5 minute briefing and set up

~10-15 minutes of active problem-solving (until success)

~10 minutes discussion

Mine Field Summary Objects are scattered in an indoor or outdoor place. In pairs, one person verbally guides his/her partner, whose eyes are closed or blindfolded, through the "minefield". Time ~20 minutes to set up; ~5-10 minutes to brief; ~5 minutes planning/discussion; ~15-30 minutes activity; ~5-30 minutes debrief Group Size 2 to 30 is possible; works well with larger groups e.g., 16 to 24.

Summary

Objects are scattered in an indoor or outdoor place. In pairs, one person verbally guides his/her partner, whose eyes are closed or blindfolded, through the "minefield".

Time

~20 minutes to set up; ~5-10 minutes to brief; ~5 minutes planning/discussion; ~15-30 minutes activity; ~5-30 minutes debrief

Group Size

2 to 30 is possible; works well with larger groups e.g., 16 to 24.

Hula Hoop This slide is not a part of this presentation.

This slide is not a part of this presentation.

Pipeline Summary This is a group problem solving & communication exercise, this activity involves moving marbles or different sized balls or even water down lengths of half pipe or 1"/2"gutters. Time 5 mins planning; 5 mins to 30 mins action Brief Description A teambuilding activity where each participant gets one short length of half pipe, and the group must work together to deliver a marble down the pipes from start point to finish. Requires a high level of communication and teamwork.

Summary

This is a group problem solving & communication exercise, this activity involves moving marbles or different sized balls or even water down lengths of half pipe or 1"/2"gutters.

Time

5 mins planning; 5 mins to 30 mins action

Brief Description

A teambuilding activity where each participant gets one short length of half pipe, and the group must work together to deliver a marble down the pipes from start point to finish. Requires a high level of communication and teamwork.

Multi-way Tug of war Time ~30-60 minutes Brief Description : Fun, physically demanding, competitive team activity. Several teams pull against each other, requiring communication and tactics as well as strength to outmanoeuvre and win

All Aboard! Equipment 10ft of rope for a circle or a tarpaulin or small platforms Time ~15-20 minutes Brief description A classic teambuilding activity in which a group is challenged to physically support one another in an endeavour to occupy an ever diminishing space.

Equipment

10ft of rope for a circle or a tarpaulin or small platforms

Time

~15-20 minutes

Brief description

A classic teambuilding activity in which a group is challenged to physically support one another in an endeavour to occupy an ever diminishing space.

Great Egg Drop Equipment For each group of approx. 4., straws, masking tape, egg and/or any other items you want to give for creating the egg package. Can use only natural materials - harder, but saves cost/waste. Time ~30-45 minutes to build package; ~15-30 minutes for Great Egg Drop; ~15-45 minutes cleanup & debrief Brief Description Small groups design an egg package to save an egg from breaking when dropped. Plus a 30 second jingle to sell their package. Followed by the Great Egg Drop-Off.

Equipment

For each group of approx. 4., straws, masking tape, egg and/or any other items you want to give for creating the egg package. Can use only natural materials - harder, but saves cost/waste.

Time

~30-45 minutes to build package; ~15-30 minutes for Great Egg Drop; ~15-45 minutes cleanup & debrief

Brief Description

Small groups design an egg package to save an egg from breaking when dropped. Plus a 30 second jingle to sell their package. Followed by the Great Egg Drop-Off.

Lemon ride This slide is not a part of this presentation.

This slide is not a part of this presentation.

Team Building Quotes In small groups, set the challenge of creating the most inspirational team building quote in a set amount of time, e.g., 10 minutes. Each team reads out their quote and teams vote on the best quote. At the end of the activity, hand out some other Team Building Quotes .

In small groups, set the challenge of creating the most inspirational team building quote in a set amount of time, e.g., 10 minutes. Each team reads out their quote and teams vote on the best quote. At the end of the activity, hand out some other Team Building Quotes .

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