Working in teams Defining a team A team

Working in teams

Defining a ‘team’ A team is a group of people with common objectives that can effectively tackle any task which it has been set to do. The contribution drawn from each member is of the highest possible quality, and is one which could not have been called into play other than in the context of a supportive team. (Everard et al. , 2004)

Teams do not act as teams simply because they are described as such… • Team leaders need to focus on what makes teams effective or what constitutes team excellence. Leaders cannot cognitively analyse and then appropriately function to improve groups without a clear focus on team goals or outcomes (Northouse, 2004)

Purposes of teams in schools • Distributing and managing work • Problem-solving and decision–making • Enabling people to take part in decision-making • Co-ordinating and liaising • Passing on information • Negotiating or conflict resolution • Increasing commitment and involvement • Monitoring and evaluating

Characteristics of effective teams • Clear objectives and goals - according to task. • Openness and confrontation - dependent on effective communication and interpersonal relationships. • Support and trust - requiring active listening and understanding. • Co-operation and conflict - working together, sharing and developing ideas in a democratic and creative manner. • Sound procedures - enable everyone to contribute to decision-making. • Appropriate leadership - knowing and understanding team members, their beliefs and values. • Regular review - monitoring and evaluating in a rigorous manner. • Individual development - enabling individuals to develop strengths, involving appraisal and staff development. • Sound inter-group relations - a commitment to teaching pupils through openness and trust. (Hall and Oldroyd, 1990)

Effective teams: a practical framework • Define goals- (Task: e. g. clarify goals, establish time scale etc. ) • Plan and decide- (Task: e. g. identify options, check resource needs etc. ) • Organise and brief- (Task: e. g. establish procedures, draw up brief and action plan etc. ) • Control, support, monitor- (Task: e. g. report progress to key stakeholders, amend action plan as necessary etc. ) • Evaluate/review- (Task: e. g. evaluate goal achievement by applying agreed success criteria etc. )

Stages of team development • Forming • Storming • Norming • Performing

Activity: how would you develop an effective team? For each of the following consider (a) what they mean to you and (b) how would you develop them in practice? • Clear elevating goals • Results- driven structure • Competent team members • Unified commitment • Collaborative climate • Standards of excellence • External support and recognition • Effective leadership

Effective leadership of teams Leaders influence teams through 4 processes: • Cognitive- helps the team to understand the problems with which they are confronted • Motivational –unites the team and helps the members to achieve the required standards • Affective- helps the team to cope with difficult situations by providing clear goals, assignments and strategies • Co-ordination- matches individual skills to roles, provides clear objectives, monitors feedback and adapts to change

Developing team leadership skills. . . A balance between: • Concern for team • Concern for task • And developing the individual

What matters in leading others? Listening skills are critical in the management of others • Leaders must listen • Leaders must use information sensitively. • Persistence is a valuable tool-a leader has many audiences in his/her role, it may be difficult to resolve dilemmas quickly. Persistence, without being over-bearing, produces outcomes

Successful teamwork depends on… • A clearly defined set of aims and objectives • The personalities of team members • The team manager

Avoid the pitfalls of weak management which include… • Over-emphasis on people • Over-emphasis on task • Over-emphasis on agendas, not processes • Reacting to events, not anticipating them • Failure to celebrate success, individual and team

Nine components of team effectiveness 1. Explicit and shared values 2. Situational leadership 3. Pride in the team 4. Clear Task 5. Review 6. Openness 7. Lateral communication 8. Collaboration 9. Action

Activity: Building effective teams A leader will be concerned with the building blocks of teams. In essence: • the way objectives are communicated • the way tasks are communicated • their ability to unite others in working towards ‘shared’ goals. What strategies do you use to communicate objectives and tasks and unite others in working towards shared goals? How could you do this better?