Teamwork

Can be in person or virtually.

Organizing a Team Project Appoint a group manager Define a clear and definite goal Identify the type of document required Assign tasks Establish a timetable Decide on a meeting schedule Establish a procedure for responding to each other’s work Develop a file naming system Establish a way to handle interpersonal conflict Select a group-decision making style Decide how to evaluate each member’s contribution Prepare a planning form Submit regular progress reports

Checklist for Effective Team Communication Focus on the reader not writer Efficient and accessible Clear and easy to understand Give the readers what they need Use the appropriate media Address a global audience Work as part of a team Ethical Carefully researched Fulfill a primary purpose: inform, instruct, persuade Proofread effectively

Running a Successful Meeting Ask each person to prepare as needed Appoint a different observer for each meeting Begin by summarizing the minutes of the last meeting Give all members a chance to speak Stick to the issue Keep things moving Observe, guide, and listen Summarize major points before calling for a vote End the meeting on schedule.

Use technology to facilitate teamwork Teleconferencing Instant message Project management software Editing software Digital whiteboards Web conferencing Blogs Intranets Wikis

Managing Team Conflicts Intepersonal differences: personality, working style, standards or ability to take criticism Gender differences: women hesitate to speak up Cultural differences: understanding of time, getting to the point, how to express disagreement, nonverbal language

How to Manage Conflicts Listen actively Avoid gender or cultural bias Research cultures other than our own Give everyone a chance to be heard Take everyone’s feelings and opinions seriously Don’t be afraid to disagree Offer and accept constructive criticism Find points of agreement with others who hold different views When the group does make a decision, support it fully.