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Bill Tidd, M.A., CASAC, CEAP
Employee Assistance Program Director
In today's workplace there is often such a wide variety of expertise required to complete the organization's work, that no one individual could possibly have all of those capabilities. The alternative therefore is to work together with the belief that the most consistently proven strategy to improve performance is through a team. One of the most requested training events by our client organizations is our teamwork presentation. We have conducted this program for teams as small as three people and as large as 60. However, the skills required to be an effective team are essentially the same regardless of the team's size
There was once an era in which Human Resources representatives might tolerate or perhaps be more forgiving of an employee and their interpersonal weaknesses if that individual was proficient technically. But that doesn't seem to be the case for many organizations today. In a survey published by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in 2001, Human Resources representatives rated the ability to work with others as among the top qualities they look for in applicants.
While it's easy to say "I enjoy working with people" or "I like being part of a team", the fact is we have all developed attitudes and behavioral patterns from early in life that can both contribute to and sometimes slow down, or even sabotage, a team's progress and ultimately, the team's effectiveness.
What are the personal benefits for being a team player?
Regardless of one's specific occupation, it seems that everyone benefits in some way when they are part of an effective team. Sometimes it's easy to see the advantages of a good team's performance for our Health, but fail to recognize that we as individuals also benefit from the efforts of a well functioning team. One of the tools we utilize in our teamwork training is a video produced by American Training Resources entitled Teamwork: Achieving Success. This video points out how we benefit personally when we choose to participate as a team player. The benefits include:
Empowerment - An effective team empowers its members to make decisions about how they work.
Increased Participation - Teamwork gives members a sense of involvement, achievement and an increased feeling of participation in the workplace.
Increased Productivity - Effective teamwork involves sharing ideas and resources, which increases the productivity of the team.
Increased Morale & Motivation - An effective team creates a supportive environment where members know they can rely on each other.
Improved Product Quality - No one says, "That's not my job" because all members are accountable for product quality and the results that the team delivers.
Multiskilling - The team focuses on tasks and goals rather than on individual functions. When you are on an effective team you have an opportunity to develop skills you ordinarily would not have acquired.
Improved Cooperation - An effective team freely shares information across the organization and fosters a sense of cooperation between departments and among co-workers.
What are the factors that determine a team's effectiveness?
So if we want to experience the benefits of an effective team, it is important to understand exactly how effective teams function. There are ten factors, that when practiced collectively, contribute to a solid teamwork. The factors include:
Communication - Effective communication creates a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere in which team members can give and receive constructive feedback without fear of criticism.
Clear purpose & plan of action - The vision, mission, goal or task of the team is clearly defined and accepted by its members.
Well-defined roles & work assignments - Work is distributed evenly among team members and each member is carrying his or her share of the workload.
Respect & support for fellow team members - Effective team members go out of their way to ensure the success of their colleagues. They ask themselves "How will the way I do my work affect my team members?"
The ability to disagree - Since there is likely to be conflict among team members, remember to use conflict communications skills and focus on the issue, not the person. Use disagreement as a creative force!
Consensus - When there is not unanimous agreement among team members, aim for consensus after an open discussion of everyone's ideas.
Flexibility - Effective teams can handle rapid changes within the workplace, which may require multiskilling, changing roles, or sharing team leadership.
Positive relationships - In order to build positive relationships with other parts of your organization, remember to use customer service skills with both internal and external customers.
Respect for team diversity - Team members bring diverse backgrounds, personalities, and skills to your team, which can be used as strengths.
Self-assessment - From time to time, a successful team will stop to examine how well it is functioning and how it can improve its effectiveness.
If your organization would like to learn more about teambuilding training or you would like to participate in an individual EAP consultation regarding teamwork, simply contact the Saint Luke's Health System Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-EAP-1223.
Resources
Teamwork: Achieving Success, video from American Training Resources at 1-800-278-2780.
The Five Dysfunctions of Teams, Patrick Lencioni, published by Jossey - Bass, 2002.
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