WEEK 5 Team Dynamics

ACTIVITY

SAVE GOODWIN COLLEGE/EAST HARTFORD YOU AND YOUR TEAM MUST SAVE THE DAY

Rules Must stay OUTSIDE of the blue lines  The Blue lines reach all the way up to the ceiling. You can NOT cross that “threshold” Neither “reactor” can cross the blue lines You can NOT sacrifice yourself or a team member to “save the day” One “rod” falls out of the “reactor” on to the floor everyone dies And…..  NO ONE CAN TALK…

Saving Private Ryan

Team Dynamics and Movie Clip What stood out for you? Why does “gripping” go up not down the chain of commands? What are the team dynamics in play in this video clip?

Agreement Challenge

Who did you make the agreement with? What was the agreement about? What was the deadline for it and when it was fulfilled? What were some of the agreements? Where does your parallel with your peers? Where do they differ?

Team Assessment Activity Group Discussion Where are you similar in:  Now  Goal Where are you different in:  Now  Goal What are major performance barriers you are experiencing? What are some strategies to overcome them?

EXISTS WHEN ONE PERSON AGREES TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF ANOTHER. CONSISTS OF COMPLEX SET OF RELATIONSHIPS & INTERDEPENDENCIES. DEPENDS ON WILLINGNESS OF FOLLOWER TO ACCEPT LEADERSHIP FROM LEADER. Leadership

Leaders Lead Through power or influence Five major powers or influences exercised in order to secure acceptance by followers.

The Power of Fear, Punishment & Reward Rewarded for compliance with leaders directives Punished for non-compliance Followers fear consequences of failing to comply

The Power of Tradition Hierarchy of leadership based on appointed or elected authority. Customary and traditional to follow instructions of supervisors. Tend to accept the leadership of people formally appointed to positions of authority.

The Power of Charisma People respond to those with dynamic, charismatic personality. Good and bad alike.

The Power of Expertise Follow based upon someone’s knowledge or experience. Sick >> doctor Legal matters >> Lawyer

The Power of Rational Agreement Follow because the directive is the correct thing to do in that circumstance. People can rationally accept the leader’s decision.

? Why then does a team leader require even more skill than being the appointed leader of a regular workgroup?

Research says: Successful team builders place considerable emphasis on transforming groups if individual contributors to highly effective work teams that produce synergistic results. Engage in behaviors that focus on achievement with development of team skills.

Eight key practices that distinguish superior team leaders 1. Action – get things done, solve problems, overcome obstacles 2. Performance – strive for excellence; know what is expected & how well they meet expectations 3. Improvement – continually work with employees to identify ways to improve

4. Contact – maintain open communication with stakeholders. 5. Relationships – ensure harmonious work relationships and constructively resolve conflict 6. Development – emphasis on new skills & competencies

7. Team Interaction – involve team members in important decision-making activities 8. Personal Character – personal model of conduct and behavior for others

BREAK

What Is Critical Thinking?

Why Should We Become Good Critical Thinkers? “Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances.”

What is Critical Thinking? A person who thinks critically can:  ask appropriate questions  gather relevant information  efficiently and creatively sort through this information  reason logically from this information  come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions about the world that enable one to live and act successfully in it

Critical thinking:  Promotes creativity  Crucial for self reflection  Ensures we have good reasons to believe or do what others try to persuade us to do or believe. - (Elder and Paul)

“Critical thinking is that mode of thinking- about any subject, content, or problem- in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them.” Paul and Elder (2001)

Critical Thinking Is NOT: Based on feeling Your unsupported opinion or judgment An opinion based solely on what others say or have said

Critical Thinking Questions

Critical Thinking Quiz Do they have the 4 th of July in England?  Yes  No  Maybe  I do not know

How many birthdays does the average man have?  78  65.5  One per year  None

Some months have 31 days, how many have 28?

How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?  None  Two  I am not sure  I do not know

Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister?

How many outs are there in an inning?

Two women play five games of checkers. Each woman wins the same number of games. There are no ties. Explain this.

A man builds a house rectangular in shape. All sides have southern exposure. A bear walks by the house. What color is the bear? Why?  Black. Bears are black  White  Brown. The house is on a steep slope.  There is no answer to this question.

I have two U.S. coins totaling 55 cents. One is NOT a nickel. What are the coins?  I have no idea  A fifty cent piece and a nickel  No answer  100 yen

Being A Good Thinker “Good thinkers routinely ask questions in order to understand and effectively deal with the world around them. They question the status quo. They know that things are often different from the way they are presented. Their questions penetrate images, masks, fronts, and propaganda.” Elder and Paul (2004)

Three Obstacles In The Pathway To Effective Critical Thinking are: Perception Bias Patterns to reduce ambiguity

Improving Teamwork ESSENTIAL BEHAVIORS AND PRACTICES

In work related issues, increases satisfaction and productivity What conditions in the work place facilitate this? Employee Participation

How are we doing as team? Six sets of Behaviors & Practices

Listen in a non-evaluative way Acknowledge another’s views Respond to message sender in understanding/empathetic manner Obtain additional information 1.Active Listening

Ensures team gathers, shares, and processes sufficient, timely and accurate information that is relevant to the work team task 2. Processing Information

Process of encouraging and obtaining active participation of all members In decision making and problem-solving efforts. 3. Inclusion

Each member has responsibility to ensure that the team engages in constructive task Includes inclusion, ensures all members participate Share rewards 4. Sharing Responsibility

Members must know, understand and apply systematic problem-solving methods; Scientific and creative 5. Solving Problems

Continue to develop skills, team interaction and evaluation of team’s work and performance How well does the team meet or exceed quality performance goals and objectives. 6. Continuous Improvement

Time Capsule Project 15 Minutes

Leading Teams – Time Capsule Get into your three teams There is a box in the front of the room This is the size of your time capsule.  THIS IS THE ONLY ROOM YOU WILL HAVE TO STORE STUFF You and your group must come up with 10 items to store in the time capsule. You have 10 minutes to decide.

Time Capsule What 10 objects did your team come up with? How did you choose each of the items?  Criteria?  Selection Process?  Prioritizing?  Final Decision… What were some of your restrictions? How did you address and overcome those restrictions? How did your team function during this process?

Leading Teams – Critique How did the team leader facilitate the team’s discussion? Which of the 8 behaviors were exhibited? What powers of influence were relied upon?