1. ‘People Skills’ Building and Leading Your Team
Dr Kirsteen Grant
Associate Professor (Human Resource Management)
Edinburgh Napier University

2. Team role conflict!
There were four team members, named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody knew about it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it and Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did. Everybody was angry about this because it was Somebody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody would do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t. In the end, Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

3. Building and leading your team
Key Skills
Organisation
Co-ordination
Management
Leadership
Confidence /resilience
Trust /respect
Delegation
Empowerment
Listening
Empathy
Inter-personal
Communication
Emotional intelligence
Assertiveness

5. So, what does the HR Director do?
Recruit, build, develop, motivate and engage the team
Ensure team members are in the right role, in the right place, at the right time
Help to resolve conflict
Ensure everyone is treated fairly and with respect
Dismiss team members
Everything to do with people – the People Strategy!

6. Handling feedback and difficult conversations
Team members have complained to you that Josh hasn’t been pulling his weight and is difficult to work with
Tina tends to interrupt team members during meetings and her communication style can be aggressive when she’s trying to get her point across
Ahmed is reserved and quiet during team meetings and discussions, but you think he has some great ideas
Josh, I’m glad that you volunteered to be on our team because you’ve got some great skills.
However, some of the team have mentioned that you haven’t followed through on some of your allocated tasks recently. For example, ...
I wondered if everything’s okay or if there’s anything I can do to help?
Tina, you have some really good ideas and I’m grateful for these.
However, some of the team have mentioned that in our meetings they feel they’re ideas and opinions are not being heard over yours.
It’s important that, as a team, we listen to everyone’s ideas and ensure everyone gets the chance to speak. Perhaps we could take it in turns to offer ideas and suggestions at future meetings.
Ahmed, you have some really great skills and ideas.
I’ve noticed that you don’t always speak up in our meetings.
I’m sure the team would welcome your thoughts and ideas. What do you think?

7. Giving feedback Where? When? Who? How?
Prepare, but avoid pre-judgements
Body language and approach
Listen actively
Be assertive but not aggressive
Focus on the issue and facts (use ‘I’ statements)
Use ‘coaching questions’
Three-step model (positive + negative + outcome)

8. Handling team meetings
Arranging the meeting
Agenda
Chairing the meeting
Minutes of meeting
Post-meeting actions