Communicating in Teams Lina Melkonian SJSU Career Center

Top Skills Sought By Recruiters Communication— Oral/Written Interpersonal/Social Critical Thinking Leadership Teamwork Business Communications Quarterly, Volume 65, March 2002, pages 21-36

Teambuilding Lessons From Geese Why do geese fly in a V formation? What happens when a goose falls out of formation? What happens when the lead goose gets tired? Why do geese in formation honk from behind? What happens when a goose gets sick or wounded?

Communicating in Teams What is a Team? A team is a unit of two or more people who work together to achieve a goal. Team members share a mission and the responsibility to achieve it. From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Types of Workplace Teams Communicating in Teams Types of Workplace Teams Problem Solving Taskforces Committees Virtual Teams From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Overview of Teams Advantages Disadvantages Information & knowledge Communicating in Teams Overview of Teams Advantages Disadvantages Information & knowledge Diversity of views Acceptance of solutions Performance Groupthink Hidden agendas Free riders High costs From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Rules Norms Identity Group Dynamics Communicating in Teams From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Team Decision Making Orientation Conflict Brainstorming Emergence Communicating in Teams Team Decision Making Orientation Conflict Brainstorming Emergence Reinforcement From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Roles People Play in Groups Communicating in Teams Roles People Play in Groups Self- Oriented Group- Maintenance Task- Facilitating Controlling Withdrawing Attention Seeking Diverting Encouraging Harmonizing Compromising Initiating Information Seeking Coordinating Procedure Setting From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Being a Facilitator is like being a Referee Communicating in Teams Being a Facilitator is like being a Referee Facilitators focus on the process the team is using to get results. On effective teams, every member feels responsible for the process, not just the leader. A facilitator like a referee, makes sure the team operates in an organized manner. A referee does not supervise team strategies, but rather makes sure that the teams are observing the rules of the game. Making sure that the team is operating in a fair, organized and respectful manner is called facilitation, and it is the responsibility of all team members.

Communicating in Teams Team Leadership As employers reduce their layers of management and as companies become flatter, individual contributors are increasingly asked to lead teams. Leaders Lead, Don’t Rule! Successful team leaders demonstrate the ability to listen to other team members first, then share their points of view. Team Leaders Are Great Facilitators Facilitation is a vital communication tool for effective team leaders.

Effective Teams Clear Purpose Collaborative Relationships Open Communicating in Teams Clear Purpose Effective Teams Collaborative Relationships Open Communication Creative Thinking Consensus Decision Making Focused Efforts Conflict Resolution From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Task Responsibilities Communicating in Teams Conflict in Teams Scarce Resources Task Responsibilities Poor Communication Attitudes and Values Power Struggles Conflicting Goals From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Resolving Conflict Proaction Fairness Research Communication Alliance Communicating in Teams Resolving Conflict Proaction Fairness Research Communication Alliance Flexibility Openness From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Overcoming Resistance Communicating in Teams Overcoming Resistance Express understanding Raise awareness Evaluate objections Withhold arguments From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Purpose Participants PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS Agenda Location Communicating in Teams Purpose Participants PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS Agenda Location From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Effective Meetings Focus Procedures Participation Closing Follow-Up Communicating in Teams Focus Effective Meetings Procedures Participation Closing Follow-Up From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Three Types Of Listening Content Critical Listening Empathetic Communicating in Teams Critical Listening Content Empathetic Three Types Of Listening Purpose and Feedback From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Barriers to Listening Self- Prejudgment Centeredness Selective Communicating in Teams Barriers to Listening Self- Centeredness Prejudgment Selective Listening From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Check Points for Meeting Facilitators Communicating in Teams Check Points for Meeting Facilitators Is this discussion being productive? Are agreements being reached? Are new ideas being generated? Are people understanding each other? What is being committed to? What is the best use of the group’s time now? Are we meeting the objectives of the meeting? Bruce Withrow, Conversation Types, Affinity Consulting

Nonverbal Communication Communicating in Teams Nonverbal Communication Honesty Reliability Efficiency From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Types of Nonverbal Communication Communicating in Teams Facial Expressions Gestures and Posture Touching Behavior Personal Appearance Use of Time and Space Vocal Characteristics Types of Nonverbal Communication From Business Communication Today, Prentice Hall, 2003

Commitment Communication Contribution Cooperation Change Management Communicating in Teams Commitment Communication Contribution Cooperation Change Management Conflict Management Connections Suzanne Willis Zoglio, 7 Keys to Building Great Workteams