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Crucial communication skills
- 1. Crucial Communication Skills for an Effective Learning Team • Keep an open mind • Engage active listening • Communicate openly and freely “Effective communication can eliminate much of the stress and negative feelings sometimes associated with working closely as a team” (Gluck, n. d.).
- 2. Crucial Communication Skills for an Effective Learning Team • Practice giving and receiving feedback • Energize the team with new ideas or humor • Be respectful “Poor communication can lead to misunderstanding and conflict in a Learning Team” (Hereford, n. d.).
- 3. The Purpose of Using the Learning Team Charter Chartering is the most important step in creating an effective Learning Team (University of Phoenix, 2014). Purposes: • Define team task • Allocate resources • Set goals • Commit Members • Make plans
- 4. The Purpose of Using the Learning Team Charter “Using the Charter to Achieve Team Success” • Establishing meeting times • Managing team conflict •Record keeping
- 5. References Gluck, S. (n.d.). Effective Communication and Teamwork. Retrieved from http://www.smallbusiness.chron.com Hereford, Z. (n.d.). Good Communication Skills. Retrieved from http://www.essentiallifeskills.net University of Phoenix. (n.d.). Getting to results. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, website. University of Phoenix. (2001). Teams in the workplace. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, website.
Editor's Notes
- One of the key components to creating a successful Learning Team is communication. Open, positive communication can help any Learning Team to move quickly and efficiently through the tasks set before them. There are several skills that are crucial in communicating in a team setting that will promote productivity and cause things to move along smoothly. The first skill we want to take a look at is open mindedness. Most of the time when we think about working in teams, negative feelings come quickly, but if we are going to create a successful Learning Team, we have to turn that thinking around. This change comes when we approach the situation with an open mind. Instead of assuming that our team members will subtract from our learning experience, we can come in with the expectation that each team member has something of value to contribute and their support can only help with creating a positive outcome. One of the most important communication skills is active listening. It involves taking notes, asking questions, and repeating what has been said in order to gain clarity (Gluck, n. d.). Active listening ensures that all parties are receiving the same information (Hereford, n. d.). Another communication skill crucial to team success is open communication. When we communicate openly we create an environment where team members feel safe to share their ideas without judgment or ridicule (University of Phoenix, n. d.). This open exchange of information can give Teams the opportunity to really undrstand what other team members have to offer.
- There are three more communication skills that I believe are crucial to a successful Learning Team. Next let us talk about giving and receiving feedback. As a team we are expected to give and receive critiques that will make the team efforts successful. There can be no voice that is too small to be heard. Team member count on one another to provide them with information that optimizes their particular contributions to the team. The offering of the slightest suggestion can make the difference between an “A” and a “B”. There can also be no egos that are to big to take an offered suggestion. One of the reasons we work in teams is because it is a vehicle for shared reflection (University of Phoenix, n. d.). This is partly because we have other people to draw from when we don’t have the answers as individuals. When working in teams, sometimes the productivity will slow down. This could be fatigue or just a plain old lack of motivation. When those times come the team can get a big jolt through one team member sharing a fresh idea or just saying something humorous just to get the river flowing again (University of Phoenix, 2001). Not every moment should be used for joking around because this would get the team off focus, but every now and then a light moment is just what we need. The last communication skill essential to Learning Team Success is Simple, be respectful. Earlier we talked about people communicating openly and freely. This happens easily when there is a respectful tone in all conversations or discussions in the group. When the respect is there a sense of camaraderie and success will also be there (Gluck, n. d.). Whenever we interact in a group or team setting, there is an expectation of mutual respect.
- When establishing a Learning Team there are three phases the team goes through. Those three phases are storming, norming, and performing. A good team charter will help teams push through the storming and norming phases, and get on to the performing stage (University of Phoenix, 2014). The purposes of establishing a good Charter are to, first define the team task. This is the point where each team member gets a clear understanding of the Learning Team’s assignment. This will ensure that team members are all on the same page. Next resources are allocated. When defining the team task each member is given some part of that task to complete. When allocating resources, each team member is given what he needs to complete his part, or told some way to get it. Next, goals are set for the team. We all know that the ultimate goal for any team is to complete it’s task. There may be some small goals set throughout the process that team members must come to an agreement on so that each team member is working on the same phase of task completion as the rest of his team. The team charter also provides a way to document each team members commitment to doing his fare share of the task or assignment. This provides accountability to the other teammates. Making plans is that part of chartering that sets the team up for the duration of the task. In the plan making phase decisions are made about how to proceed with the task completion. Teams also decide together different ways to address team conflict. Teams set ground rules and guidelines, make decisions about time management and deadlines, and the also ensure fair contribution and collaboration (University of Phoenix, 2010). The Learning Team Charter is the team’s patway to success.
- When we create the team charter, we already know the basic decisions that we make as discussed in the previous slide, but there is a bit more. When we talk about time management that is not only a discussion about deadlines. The team also establishes meeting times. Presenting, discussing, collaborating, assigning, reporting, and deciding are important things that happen in meetings (University of Phoenix, n. d.). The Learning team Charter also helps the team establish guidelines for resolving conflict. This is not a part of the Charter, but the Learning Team Log helps to keep a clear record of when each team meeting occurs, who was in attendance, and what the team accomplished. This record keeping mechanism reinforces accountability among teammates.