Creating A Team Environment Julie Kowalke

Humans are “social animals” Depend on others for ideas and feedback Accomplish more with help from others Are you a team player?

 Crucial part of business  Self-directed teams  Increase cooperation and collaboration  Managers and employees work together  Produce new products or services  Members bring special skills and talents

Gain satisfaction Feeling of ownership Process is empowering for individuals Produces confidence Promotes future involvement

(December 1, 2010)

Employees are more efficient Team members strive for excellence Sense of job security Greater feeling of ownership Productivity increases Completion time decreases

 Goals are clear and concise  Good communication skills  Specialized technical expertise  Commitment to excellence  Receives recognition from management  Collaborative rapport with other members

 Relationships form over time  Teams go through a “life cycle”  Requires strong leadership in beginning  Mutual respect and rapport develops

FormingDefiningIdentifyingProcessingPerforming accessed (November 30, 2010)

 Tasks completed quicker and easier  Enthusiasm stimulates creativity  Members are more productive  Members feel accepted  Feeling of camaraderie

Positive Team Member TrustworthyCooperative Enthusiastic Resolves Conflicts Responsible to team accessed (November 30, 2010)

 Teamwork exists in our everyday lives  Everyone wins with teamwork  Members are valued for their contributions  Creative ideas are fostered through teamwork  Empowerment increases loyalty

Resolve Conflict Establish Accountability Format Meeting Identify Roles Recruit and Train Members accessed (December 1, 2010)

 Attend meetings regularly  Be on time  Be prepared to participate  Stay involved  Eager to contribute  Participate with enthusiasm  Clarify and summarize dialog with others

 Perception through words and body language  Filter information through interpretation  Listening is communicating  Facts vs. opinions  Debates vs. dialogues

 Roles and responsibilities clearly defined  Respect differing opinions  Keep team members informed  Each member has a turn to speak  Listen more, don’t just jump in  Speak clearly, behave politely

 “My way” is not always right  Individual experiences  Misinterpreting motives  Appreciate the differences  The troublemakers  Can be challenging  Help you to think in abstract

Type of Team LocationWithin Company Specific Topic Specialized Skill Length of Time NetworkGeographic Diverse Not Necessarily YesTask-Makes Recommendations Dissolves When Issue Is Complete ParallelGeographic Diverse May be internal or external Highly Task Oriented ProfessionalsTeam Does Not Dissolve Project Development Geographic Diverse YesCreates products or processes Task-Makes Decisions Team Does Not Dissolve FunctionalGeographic Diverse YesFunction specific Function SpecificTeam Does Not Dissolve ServiceDifferent Time Zones YesParticular service provided Function Specific24 Hours Per Day Service Team, accessed (December 2, 2010)

 A team is a relationship  Promotes:  Loyalty  Creativity  Sense of belonging  The glue that binds  Lasting friendships

Buzzle.com, “The Importance of Teamwork,” teamwork-in-business.html, (accessed November 29, 2010) teamwork-in-business.html Heathfield, Susan M., “How to Build a Teamwork Culture,” accessed (November 30, 2010) Salary.com, “Job Satisfaction 2009,” provided by Salary.com, accessed (December 1, 2010) The Happy Manager, “Problem Solving Techniques,” solving-exercises.html, accessed (December 1, 2010) solving-exercises.html The-ibenefits.com, “The Benefits of Teamwork,” teamwork.html, accessed (November 30, 2010) teamwork.html Wikipedia.com, accessed (December 2, 2010) Photographs provided by, Microsoft Online