The Art of Team Building

1. The Art of Team Building Stella Gran-O’Donnell, PhC, MSW, MPH 2014 Executive Development Institute’s (EDI) 4th Annual Leadership Together Conference Oct. 12, 2013 Asian Counseling and Referral Services

2. THE ART OF TEAM BUILDING Agenda • Welcome & Introductions • Background & Significance of Team Building • Benefits of Team Building • Team Development/Building Model • Activity #1 and Debrief • Team Building • Qualities of a Good Team Member • How to Build a Good Team • Activity #2 and Debrief • Activity #3 and Debrief • Pulling It All Together: • Team Building Strategies and Taking Action • Q & A - Discussion

3. TEAM: Together Everyone Accomplishes More • A team is more than just a group of individuals. • A team works together to achieve shared goals. • Teamwork is joint action by a group of people who put the team's vision above their own benefit. • Members of a team: • Share a goal • Cooperate • Accept one another • Accept differences • Are united. Source: Dynamic Leadership Essential Five: Team Building for Leaders. http://www.fcclainc.org/assets/files/pdf/programs/dynamicleader/team_building_for_leaders.pdf

4. GROUP vs. TEAM:What’s the difference? GROUP TEAM • A number of people assembled to work toward common goal. • Members may have little or no connection to one another. • Members may have little interest in achieving goal or its implications. • Work toward common goal. • Share common vision. • Develop strong sense of itself as a team. • Embrace mutual accountability. • Invested in its goal and vision. Becomes a “High performance team”(per Katzenbachand Smith) with addition of commitment to one another’s personal growth and success.

6. “Teamwork is the ability to work as a group toward a common vision, even if that vision becomes extremely blurry.” - Unknown. On a poster.

7. Team Building: 10 Benefits for Your Workplace 1. Less conflict.2. Greater collaboration.3. Fewer turf struggles.4. People know how to work together better.5. Greater sense of camaraderie.6. People feel included and valued.7. Leaders don’t waste time managing teams.8. Improved communication.9. Letting go of egos.10. More positive work environment. Source: Guy Farmer, 11/2010. http://www.noomii.com/articles/648-team-building-10-benefits-for-your-workplace

8. Benefits of Team Building for Your Personal and Professional Life • Creativity • Opportunity to learn from others • Sense of responsibility and accountability • Increased interpersonal skills, e.g., communication, social and leadership skills • Contributing to groups with ideas, suggestions, and effort • Working cooperatively • Time Management Skills • Healthy respect for different opinions, customs, and individual preferences • Conflict Resolution Skills • Ability to participate in group decision-making • And more… Reference: US DOL. Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success. Retrieved from: http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills/softskills.pdf

9. Basic Principles of Effective Teamwork • Mutual GOAL(s) • Accountability • Commitment • Communication • TRUST • RESPECT Reference(s): Essentials of Effective Teamwork. Retrieved from: http://www.workplacetrainingcenter.com/Prod-2614.aspx. Corporate team building image 10038379.

10. STAGES OF TEAM DEVELOPMENT/ TEAM BUILDING STAGE ONE: FORMING STAGE FIVE: TRANSFORMING/REFORMING OR ADJOURNING/ MOURNING STAGE TWO: NORMING STAGE FOUR: PERFORMING SYNERGY STAGE THREE: STORMING Source: Bruce Tuckman, 1965

11. ACTIVITY #1

12. Communication Process

13. Discussion Questions • What was it like to give directions? • What was it like to receive directions? • What was most challenging for sender? Receiver? • How can I/we be more effective in our communication style(s)? • What would you do differently? • To be more clear specific? To clarify? • To be more active listener?

14. “We” = POWER People are inherently social and drawn to working together. 

15. Which type of worker are you? “There are three types of workers: those who get things done, those who watch things get done, and those who wonder how so much got done.” - Unknown

16. Qualities of a Good Team Player“Play to your strengths in a team.” • Demonstrate reliability • Communicate constructively • Actively listen • Actively participate • Share openly and willingly • Cooperate and pitch in to help • Offer positive feedback • Be flexible • Show commitment to the team • Work as a problem solver • Treat others in a respectful and supportive manner • Keep a positive attitude! Source: Brounstein, M. Managing Teams for Dummies. Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ten-qualities-of-an-effective-team-player.html

17. ACTIVITY #2 There is no “I” in team…everyone has something to contribute to - “We” (Team)

18. Small Work Group Discussion • What are 2-3 unique assets/strengths (or specific role/s) you contribute to teams? • Identify 1-2 common assets/strengths among team members. • Based on common assets/traits, please identify a name that represents your team.

19. “Coming together is a beginning.Keeping together is progress.Working together is success.” - Henry Ford

20. How do you build a team? Choosing team members: • Start with the best you can find. • Choose team member(s) who will be a “good fit.” • Personality • World view • Work ethic • Ability to use disagreement and conflict well • Have diverse backgrounds and perspectives. • Committed to the concept of working as part of a team, i.e., being a “team player.” • Have sense of humor! • Committed to the team’s guiding vision. Source: Rabinowitz, P and Berkowitz, B. The Community Toolbox. Building Teams: Broadening the Base for Leadership. Retrieved from: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1123.aspx

21. Activity #3:Marshmallow Challenge GOAL: Build the tallest free-standing structure out of 12 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow - with the marshmallow on top. Source: The Marshmallow Challenge. Retrieved from: http://marshmallowchallenge.com/Welcome.html

23. TEAMS TEAM 1 (4-6 people): 1 person is the Leader/in charge, 2 are supervisors and 2-3 are line workers/staff. Only 2-3lineworkers/staff can touch/work on the structure. To make any design changes, lineworkers/staff must go through the 2 supervisors who must consult with Leader and request permission. Communications between team members can only be done via the chain (think telephone game). You must physically organize yourselves in a heirarchy. TEAM 2 (4 ): Each person is in charge of 1 item, it is their job to add that item to the structure and only 1 person can be touching the structure at a given time. (Note: everyone must participate in building the structure.) TEAM 3 (4-6 people): Everyone has an opportunity to help build the structure to reach the goal. Go for it!!! TEAM 4 (4 people): Observers – will watch/observe each group and its process of working together. [Optional: Pending number of individuals]

24. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How did your team work together? What specifically worked well? What difficulties did you experience? 2. Besides the team leader, what role did each person play in the group? How was each person helpful to the end goal? 3. Was it a plus or a minus that the team leader was not able to physically participate in the activity? How did the team leader feel about his or her level of participation? 4. What would you do differently if given a second chance at this activity?

25. PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER… Team Building Strategies Q & A - Discussion

26. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much…” ― Helen Keller

27. PROCESS… STRATEGY

28. TEAM = TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE

29. NEXT STEPS – TAKING ACTION… To be a better team leader or member, I want to improve the following skills or ability/ies: 1. 2. 3. I will reach out to the following people for specific guidance:

30. THANK YOU!!! Contact Information: Stella Gran-O’Donnell Cell: 206.335.5079 Email: sgranodonnell@comcast.net