Understanding how others work

Understanding how others work Carly Hanson (Sector Development Officer) Friday 20 October 2017

This session • Objective: • To understand team dynamics and how others work • Activities: • Core qualities quadrant exercise • Reflection: think of a time you’ve had difficulty managing a staff member • Marshmallow challenge • TED talk video Understanding how others work |2

Core qualities quadrant exercise Understanding how others work |3

Core qualities quadrant exercise – Example #1 Understanding how others work |4

Core qualities quadrant exercise – Example #2 Understanding how others work |5

Core qualities quadrant exercise – Reflection Understanding how others work |6

Core qualities quadrant exercise – What does it mean for a team? • When you meet someone who shares your core quality (A): • You’ll respect each other • But under stress, you might turn to nagging • When you meet your opposite (D: allergy): • Often results in contempt • Which makes you vulnerable to your pitfall (B) • People are usually allergic to the exaggerated version of what they need the most (their challenge) • Identifying the person’s core quality behind their pitfall (your allergy) may create a basis of cooperation • Find the balance between core strength (A) and challenge (C): • You’ll become more efficient / effective in your communication and cooperation Understanding how others work |7

What does it mean for a team? Example #1 • Determination is your core strength / quality • Patience (C) is your challenge, so it’s difficult to be more like that • The reason is that you dislike passive (D) people, and you’re afraid of becoming like them • Remember, your pitfall, pushiness (B) is someone else’s allergy, passivity (D) • Finding the balance: patiently determined or determined with patience? • That’s why working in a team can be challenging! Understanding how others work |8

Marshmallow challenge! PRIZE GIVEN FOR THE TALLEST TOWER! Understanding how others work |9

Marshmallow challenge – Rules • Build the tallestfreestandingstructure: • Measured from the table top surface to the top of the marshmallow • The structure cannot be suspended from a higher structure, like a chair, ceiling or light • The entiremarshmallow must be on top: • Cutting or eating part of the marshmallow disqualifies the team • Use as much or as little of the kit: • Use as many or as few of the 20 spaghetti sticks, as much or as little of the string or tape • Break up the spaghetti, string or tape: • Teams are free to break the spaghetti, cut up the tape and string to create new structures • The challenge lasts 18 minutes: • Teams cannot hold on to the structure when the time runs out • Those touching or supporting the structure at the end of the exercise will be disqualified Understanding how others work |10

Marshmallow challenge – Debrief • Debrief: • How did your team go about building the tower? • What worked well in the team? • What didn’t work well in the team? • How did your core quadrant qualities play out in action? • What did you learn about this challenge? • TED Talk: Tom Wujec: ‘Build a Tower, Build a Team’ More information: https://www.tomwujec.com/design-projects/marshmallow-challenge/ Understanding how others work |11

Core quadrant activity reflection • Reflect on a time when you were in a team situation • In your workplace, working with others in the sector, at university, or elsewhere • How can the core quadrant activity help you reflect on what worked / what didn’t? • Will this knowledge change the way you work in a team in the future? • Share your reflections with the person next to you Understanding how others work |12

Presentation Title and Footer Information (change on Master page) |13

Understanding how others work