Teamwork C.Eng 491 Fall 2009

Teamwork A must for this course Not only technical but also social skills Teamwork ability is a basic quality that employers seek for

TEAM MEETINGS Teamwork means lots of team meetings: Restate project goals - Even if your instructor has given you the goal already, it is important to make sure everyone has the same understanding of the assignment. One way to do that could be to have everyone write down or state goals for the project, then compare notes. Name your team - This may sound very trivial but having a common name is a good way to feel closer to the project. Team names could be a number, a project name or something more lighthearted. Share contact information - You will probably want to share e-mail addresses, but phone numbers. You should also establish when and how different tools should be used. Establish a timeline and assign tasks - For longer team projects, you may need to establish an initial work plan and decide who will do each task Set ettiquette ground rules - Although disagreements will arise, it is possoble to voice opinions in such a way so that conflicts do not escalate. Typically, it is suggested that personal attacks be avoided.

Structuring the Meeting Meeting agenda: similar to a contract or agreement about the meetıng among team members all team members should have input in the agenda. includes: Date, time Location of meeting, List of attendees expected, Purpose of the meeting, Order of tasks to be conducted at the meeting, Ending time.

Ground Rules Teams often develop ground rules that tell how they want a meeting conducted. Some possible team ground rules are: Be prepared for the meeting. Come to the meeting on time. Start and end meeting on time. Value the diversity of team members. Support the team concept and process. Maintain POSITIVE group dynamics. Make decisions by consensus of all necessary team members. Participate in the meeting. Don't be a lurker. Keep records of your own work and the team's compiled work. Listen and have an open mind. Evaluate the meetings with the intent of improving future meetings.

Communication Tips Active Listening Ask Questions Constructive Feedback Body Language Awareness Humor A Little Smalltalk Patience

Online Communication Use Emoticons Don't write when you're angry Reread your message before sending Share daily schedules Establish a time limit for replies

Roles in a Team The Leader - for setting a base agenda, facilitating meetings, and monitoring progress with communicating with members as needed. Initiator - Someone who suggests new ideas. One or more people can have this role at a time. Recorder - This person records whatever ideas a team member may have. It is important that this person quote a team member accurately and not "edit" or evaluate them. Devil's Advocate/Skeptic - This is someone whose responsibility is to look for potential flaws in an idea. Optimist - This is someone who tries to maintain a positive frame of mind and facilitates the search for solutions. Timekeeper - Someone who tracks time spent on each portion of the meeting. Gate Keeper - This person works to ensure that each member gives input on an issue. One strategy to do this is to ask everyone to voice their opinion one at a time. Another is to cast votes. Summarizer - Someone who summarizes a list of options.

Guidelines Define a common goal for the project. List tasks to be completed. Assign responsibility for all tasks. Develop a timeline and checklist. Post a timeline and checklist. Set up a central repository for all electronic files. Post or send all team meeting notes. Maintain a central archive for all communications Send reminders when deadlines approach. Send confirmation when tasks are completed.

What is "Unproductive"? Consistently missing meetings Consistently missing deadlines Never coming prepared to meetings Not answering e-mail or messages in a reasonable time Discourteous or disrespectful language

Conflict Resolution Conflict Happens Clarify Expectations Identify the Type of Team Conflict Identify Team Needs Depersonalize Team-Internal Conflict Structuring Discussion

Creativity, Innovation Creativity: Generation of new ideas Innovation: Implementation of new ideas (applied creativity)

Innovative Thinking means, taking an innovative approach to problem solving. includes the ability to "think outside of the box", to go beyond the conventional, and a willingness to try out different solutions.

Some Tips acknowledging the ideas of others and incorporating them into performance improvements developing and weighing alternatives to conventional thinking before settling on a solution constructively challenging existing processes and procedures on the job and developing original approaches to improve or replace them taking a calculated risk to improve performance by introducing something new and unique to the public sector showing foresight, encouraging new ideas and helping others to see new possibilities

Developmental Activities Use brainstorming and other creative techniques Do something dramatically different to improve your creativity Identify innovative approaches for learning and development from other departments or outside the public sector Practice keeping an open mind to new or different ideas