1. The Importance (and Challenges) of Teams
FACULTY: This slideshow can be used to Prepare Teams for Success. This includes (A) Learn about Teams (20 minutes), (B) Get to know your teammates (20 minutes) and (C ) Set Goals and Expectations (20 minutes).
Introductory Slide
This semester you will be working in teams on a group project.
This probably won’t be the first time you’ve worked on a team – many of you have played team sports, or worked in a team on club activities; and most of you have worked in teams on group projects in other classes
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been on a team where your teammates don’t show up on time, or don’t do high quality work, or argue with each other – what I’m asking is, raise your hand if you’ve ever been on a bad team. (most of the students will raise their hands)
Why is this? You’ve all been on teams before! Why is it that sometimes they work great and other times they don’t work at all?
I believe it is because very few of us know exactly what it takes to make a team successful.
We often work in teams but we rarely think about what we can do before, during and after a team project to increase the likelihood that we will be successful
We often talk about the TASK we have to perform (like win a soccer game if you are on a sports team, or perform community service if you are in a club, or make a presentation for a class team project) but we rarely talk about the PROCESS we will use to interact with each other to make this happen
We hope that things will go well, but when things start to get off track, we rarely address our concerns with our teammates. It is just too uncomfortable.
Today I want to talk about teams – why teams are important, what a good team does, and how you can increase the likelihood of enjoying working on a team and getting a good grade!
I call this “teams 101” because this is the basics. It is amazing how much of an impact doing a few simple things can have on team success

2. Why should we talk about teams?
Teams are everywhere
Teams are everywhere
Today, most organizations use teams

3. Why should we talk about teams?
Teams are everywhere
Today, most organizations use teams
As recently as 25 years ago, most of the work done in organizations remained at that individual level
(PPT – show a bar graph 1987 a Center for Effective Organizations study found that 28% of Fortune 1000 companies employed at least one self managed work team. In 1999 that number was up to 72%; today that number is 88%)
So…chances are good that you will work in a team
And, for good reason. Good teams can perform at a level greater than the individual teammates
May 2013 report of 821 business executives from 14 countries finds that:
9 out of 10 companies surveyed agree that the problems facing them are so complex that teams are essential to provide effective solutions
88% believe teams are the best way to address increasingly complex business problems;
83% feel that improving our organization’s ability to develop and manage teams will be essential for future competitiveness
1987 Center for Effective Organizations
1999 Center for Effective Organizations
2010 Ken Blanchard Survey

4. Why should we talk about teams?
Teamwork isn’t magic – it is a skill that can be learned
If we learn about what good team members do, you
will have a positive experience,
do a better job on your task,
and be ready to be a good teammate at work
If we learn about what good teams and good team members do, you will have a positive experience, be happier, do a better job on your task, and be ready to be a good teammate at work
Research shows that people who focus on the task they are engaged in and on the team processes that team members are engaged in will be more satisfied and perform at a higher level than those who don’t focus on these important factors.

5. Most Frustrating Things about Teams
Ineffective use of meeting time
Ineffective communication
Lack of accountability
Individuals who don’t complete assignments
Our goal is to avoid the frustrating things about working on teams.
{read list}
Do these sound familiar?
Ken Blachard.com 2006 Survey

6. Most Frustrating Things about Teams
Lack of preparation in meetings
Not everyone pulls their weight
Uneven work distribution
Lack of trust among team members
Our goal is to avoid the frustrating things about working on teams.
{read list}
Do these sound familiar?
Ken Blachard.com 2006 Survey

7. A good team is made up of good teammates, who…
Do the work
Show up
Contribute
Cooperate
What kinds of goals and expectations should you set? Lots of research finds that there are 4 categories of expectations we should have for our teammates.
Do the work – outside of team meeting, content development to support team goals – understands the content, does the work by deadline, high quality
Show up – come to meetings, utilize time wisely at meetings
Contribute – participate during team meetings, focused on task accomplishment
Cooperate – respectful of others, works in best interest of team
So, let’s talk about each
These are important team competencies

8. Competency #1: Do the Work
A good teammate
Defines the task to accomplish
Understands team goals
Completes work on time
Is well prepared
A great teammate
Does everything a good teammate does, plus:
Organizes work of others
Makes sure teammates have what they need Follows up with others Volunteers to help others
A poor teammate
Not prepared
Doesn’t do the work
or, poor quality of work
Provides minimal
contribution
Do the work – outside of the team meeting to prepare for team meeting
A poor teammate
A good teammate
A great teammate (team leader)
List the behaviors of each

9. Competency #2: Show up A good teammate Shows up for meeting
Shows up on time
Is ready to work
Uses meeting time wisely
A great teammate
Does everything a good teammate does, plus:
Holds others accountable
for attending meeting
Sets meeting agenda/
goals/timeline
Leads scheduling meeting
and meeting discussion
A poor teammate
Doesn’t show up
Shows up late
Appears unaware of
time constraints
Is distracted at meeting
Show up at the team meeting
A poor teammate
A good teammate
A great teammate (team leader)
List the behaviors of each

10. Competency #3: Contribute
A good teammate
Participates in meeting
Shares information openly
Focused on team goal
Stays on task
A great teammate
Does everything a good teammate does, plus:
Motivates teammates
Balances team and task
Integrates efforts of
teammates
Monitors progress towards goals
A poor teammate
Does not work on task
Takes group off task
Is focused only on their
own task
Does not participate in meeting
Contribute at the team meeting
A poor teammate
A good teammate
A great teammate (team leader)
List the behaviors of each

11. Competency #4: Cooperate
A good teammate
Listens to others
Open to feedback from team
Respects teammates
Is flexible
A great teammate
Does everything a good teammate does, plus:
Involves others
Creates a positive
work environment
Resolves differences
Promotes functional
conflict
A poor teammate
Dominates team
Is defensive in
discussions
Does not listen to team
Acts in own self interest
Cooperate with teammates
A poor teammate
A good teammate
A great teammate (team leader)
List the behaviors of each

12. A good team… Before the project begins – Prepares for Success
During the project –
Provides feedback to team members about their performance
After the project –
Reviews team performance at key points in the process and makes adjustments
Fortunately, it is not too difficulty to be a good team. Research shows us that there are just 3 things every good team does
{Read list }– will get into detail on each on upcoming slides

13. 1. Before the project – Prepares for Success Learn about Teams
Get to Know your Teammates
Set Goals and Clarify Expectations
Step 1. Prepare for Success
Learn about teams
That’s what you are doing today. It is important to understand that a tremendous amount of research has been conducting on effective teams. We know what effective and ineffective teams do.
Once you learn what effective teams do, you are more likely to build an effective team
Get to know your teammates
This sounds simple – sure you want to get to know them, get their contact information and find out when you can meet as a team.
However, you also want to determine who has what skills that will make your team a success.
Do you need to write a paper for the team project? Figure out who has good writing skills!
Do you need to create a PowerPoint ? Figure out who can make a really strong PowerPoint presentation!
What if your project requires a skill that nobody on your team has? Figure out how to “fill the gap” now!
Sets goals and clarify expectations
You need to have a goal everyone is working for
Want “Goal congruence” = clear, understandable goals, shared by all, and accepted by all
Is your goal an “A” on the project? If so, make sure everyone agrees and is committed to this goal
You need expectations about how people will act on their way to achieving the goal
Will everyone do their fair share of the work? Will you show up on time for meetings?
Figure out what is important to your team to help you be successful
You need to determine how you will address it if people aren’t acting the way they should on a team
You can’t just let people “get away with it”
Everyone needs to be on the same page

14. 2. During the project
Provides useful feedback to team members about their performance
Frustrating when dealing with slackers
We want cohesion…but not “groupthink”
Difficult, sometimes, to provide feedback
Step 2. Provides useful feedback to team members about their performance during the project
It is frustrating when people aren’t pulling their own weight (social loafing = slacker = opposite of cohesion) or are hurting team performance
Is Cohesive, but not too much
Cohesion = commitment to group; work together
But not “groupthink” where everyone thinks alike
Need to challenge each other to come up with the best product
We need to provide teammates with feedback
However, sometimes this is tough. We often want to maintain the friendship rather than provide honest feedback
All team members need to be open to receiving feedback
We need to provide feedback on specific behaviors that are important to team success

15. 3. After the project
Reviews team performance at key points in the process and makes adjustments
Step back and reflect
Focus on “task” performance and “team” process
Step 3. Reviews team performance at key points in the process and makes adjustments
It is important every once in a while to “step back” and reflect on how we are doing as a team
Often we are so focused on the task we are working on, we don’t see ways to improve
Team debrief sessions allow us to stop, reflect, and make adjustments to enhance performance
In step 2 you are providing INDIVIDUALS on your team with feedback to help them become better teammates. Here, in Step 3 you are talking as a TEAM about what you all can do to improve
Plenty of research demonstrates time and again that teams that engage in these behaviors perform at a higher level than teams that don’t

16. Simple things lead to team success
This doesn’t take a lot of time.
Prepare for success – 1 hour of class time
Provide useful feedback – 10 minutes several times throughout semester
Review team performance – 20 minutes twice a semester
Commit less than an hour and a half outside of class over the course of the semester and research shows that you will have a more positive experience, you will be happier with your team, and your team performance will be better
FACULTY:
This is the end of “Part A” Learn about Teams
Continue to the next slide if you are ready to engage in “Part B” Get to Know Your Teammates

17. Get to Know your Teammates
Meet your teammates
Learn names
Exchange contact information
Figure out schedules
Learn about your teammate’s skills
conversation about strengths and weaknesses
Part B – Get to Know Your Teammates
Take 20 minutes to get into your teams and begin to get to know each other
FACULTY: This is the end of Part B – Get to Know your Teammates
Continue to the next slide for Part C – Set Goals and Clarify Expectations

18. Team Contract Determine what is important to us
Determine how to address poor performance
Agree or “contract” to act in the best interest of the team and hold others accountable
Part C – Set Goals and Clarify Expectations
Hand out team contract and describe

19. Competencies Poor Good Great Do the work Is not prepared
Doesn’t do work
Poor quality
Minimal contribution
Defines task
Understands goals
Work done on time
Well prepared
Organizes work of others
Ensures others are ready Follows up with teammates Volunteers help
Show up
Doesn’t show up
Shows up late
Unaware of time
Distracted at meeting
Shows up for meeting
Shows up on time
Ready to work
Uses time wisely
Sets meeting agenda
Leads process
Leads discussion
Holds other accountable
Contribute
Doesn’t work on task
Takes group off task
Focus on own task
Does not participate
Participates
Shares information
Focused on team
Stays on task
Motivates teammates
Balances team and task
Integrates efforts
Monitors progress
Cooperate
Dominates team
Is defensive
Does not listen
Acts in self interest
Listens to others
Open to feedback Respects team
Is flexible
Involves others
Creates positive environment
Resolves differences
Promotes functional conflict
Take 20 minutes as a team to complete the contract.
Here is the summary of behaviors we discussed earlier that are important to team success.
Take a look, talk with your team, decide which of these (or add others if you’d like!) are important for your team.
Do you have a “pet peeve” = something that really irritates you when you work on a team? If so, be sure to put it in the contract so people won’t behave that way!
List the important behaviors on your contract
Decide what you will do if people don’t uphold these behaviors
Sign contract
Make copies of the contract for each teammate and your professor