This document outlines how to build and maintain effective teams. It discusses determining if a team is needed for a task, creating the team by defining objectives and establishing ground rules, facilitating collaboration and trust within the team, defining standards for performance, and ensuring commitment through reflection and feedback. Key aspects of effective teams include clear goals, effective communication, defined roles, established trust and respect, and striving for synergy among team members.

1. Making Teams Work
What Makes Teams Work?

2.  Explain why teams are essential in the
workplace.
 Identify what makes a group of individuals a
team.
 Describe what makes teams work.
 Explain why some teams fail.
 Lead or facilitate a team.
 Participate more effectively as a team
member.
Learning Objectives

3.  Can the specified task be performed better by
a skilled individual working alone or a Team?
 Avoid Too Many People
 Consider The Task
Determine If A Team Is Needed

4.  Working Environment & Resources
 Information, meeting place & times, time
management, and administration & technical
support
 External Support & Expertise
 Incentives
 Organizational Support
 Examples
 Recognition
 Funding, etc.
Provide Organization Support

5.  Team potency
 Value Contribution
 Enthusiasm, Satisfaction, Energy & Commitment
 Avoid Groupthink
 “Team members’ overwhelming drive to reach
consensus…” – Waldeck
 Balance the Majority Opinion
 Give Equality and Voice
Continued…

6.  Agreement
 Be Able to Articulate
 Skills & Expertise
 Objectives Define Clear Direction
 What are the team goals?
 Targets?
 How?
Define Team Objectives

7.  Size
 Compatibility
 Establish Trust
Create the Team

8.  Roles
 Identify Responsibilities
 Leadership
 Expectations
 “Set agendas, assign tasks, and provide team
training, as needed” – Waldeck
 Focus
 Respect
 Guidelines
 Agreement is desirable, but not essential
 No “Bad” Ideas
 Leave Personal Agendas Out
Establish Ground Rules

9.  Synergy
 1 + 1 = 3
 Diverse Talents & Abilities
 Innovation
 Trust Is Essential
 Communication
 Fill-in Where Needed
 Treat Each Other with Dignity & Respect
Facilitate Collaboration,
Disagreement, & Trust

10.  Important!
 Successful Teams
 High Standards
 Perseverance
 Define Values
 Choose How to Achieve Results
 Dishonesty
 Manipulative
 Integrity
 Process
Define Standards for Performance

11.  Commitment Is Crucial For Team Success
 Take Credit Dishonestly
 Quality
 Quantity
 Participation
Push for Commitment

12.  Review
 What can we do better?
 What are the team’s goals?
 How to we measure success?
 Standards of Performance
 Process is Meaningful
 Feedback
 Recognition
 Timing
Pause and Reflect

13.  Peter Skillman, “Build a Tower, Build a
Team.”
 Teambuilding
 Diversity – unique talents and skills
The Marshmallow Challenge

18.  Applicable Lessons
 Prototyping Matters
 Diverse Skills are Important
 Incentives Magnify Results
 Keep it Simple!
Why is this important?

20. Concept Variations

21.  Communication
 Google Groups
 File Sharing
 Inclusive
 Brainstorming
 Meeting for Practice
Examples of Good Teamwork

22.  Effective Teams Must Be Built And
Maintained!
 Clear Goals
 Effective Communication
 Define Roles and Responsibilities
 Establish Trust With Integrity & Respect
 Strive For Synergy
Summary

23. Questions

24.  Waldeck, Jennifer H., et al. Business and
Professional Communication in a Digital
Age. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage
Learning, 2013. Print.
 Tom Wujec. “Ted2010 Talk.” The
Marshmallow Challenge. n.p. PDF.
 “The Marshmallow Challenge.” 19 Jan. 2010.
Image.
Sources