Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

COS 4860

Bruce K. Barnard

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Be Prepared– What is the objective?– Research– Environment (internal & external)

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Interview Effectively– Ask questions (who, what, where, when, how,

why)– Identify the organizational culture

Learning is more about asking the right questions than knowing the right answer!

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Gain trust– Be honest & open– Avoid hidden agendas– Honor commitments and guidelines– Respect confidentiality

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Listen!– Use the empathic listening model– Listen– Paraphrase– Empathize– Question– Listen

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Commit to Quality– Evaluate your performance– Improve your skills– Be open to feedback

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Communicate Intentionally– Respond to diverse learning styles and

approaches to issues– We respond to the client’s preferred style not

our own!

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

Focus on our clients– Communicate– Demonstrate concern

Understand needs– Probe for problems in communication– Take a big picture view

The Central QuestionThe Central Question

Who is responsible for the performance and results of the team?

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Focus the Team– Get acquainted– Write a charter– Begin documentation

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Assign Roles– Review team functions– Assign roles– Clarify responsibilities

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Establish guidelines– Review healthy team behaviors– Decide team guidelines– Add to team charter

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Plan the work– Lay out major goals– Break into tasks– Schedule asks– Assign responsibility

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Do the work– Meet regularly– Update action items– Communicate– Address problems

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Review team performance– Complete evaluation– Discuss– Decide actions

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Complete the work– Aim for completion– Overcome problems– Document results

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Publish the results– Set communication goals– Plan the communication– Present/publish

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Reward the team– Celebrate milestones as a team– Recognize the team in the organization

10 Steps to Team Success 10 Steps to Team Success (Rees, 1997)(Rees, 1997)

Move on– Disband– Restructure– Renew

OutcomesOutcomes

Traditional Individual work is

clearly defined Competition among

individuals “This is my job”

Team-Based Team performance is

clearly defined Collaboration among

individuals Competition among

teams “This is our job”

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Minority DecisionsMajority DecisionsUnanimous DecisionsConsensus Decisions

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Minority Decision– No time to draw people into the process– Only a few people are affected– The group assigned decision-making to an

individual or subgroup

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Minority decision advantages– Quick and efficient, especially for non critical

decisions– Capitalizes on knowledge and experience of the

decision-maker

Minority decision disadvantages– Lack of commitment to the decision

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Majority decision advantages– Quick and efficient– Works for very large groups– Expedient for decisions not affecting process

Majority decision disadvantages– Winners/losers– Can promote conflict & alliances

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Unanimous decision advantages– Commitment to decision

Unanimous decision disadvantages– Quick, unanimous decisions can lead to poor

decisions– Group think

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

What is consensus?

“A state of mutual agreement among members of a group where all legitimate concerns of individuals have been addressed to the satisfaction of the group”. Saint and Lawson

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

How do we reach consensus?– Share goals, needs, and ideas– Debate, organize, and prioritize– Construct a solution or decision together

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Consensus decision advantages– Highest level of commitment– Each consensus decision creates fertile ground

for the next

Consensus decision disadvantages– Can be time-consuming and difficult

Decision-MakingDecision-Making

Advantages of consensus

Disadvantages of consensus

EvaluationEvaluation

What are we doing well?What do we need to stop doing?What do we need to start doing?What do we need to do more of?What do we need to do less of?

TasksTasks

Coordinating the teamKeeping the team focused on tasksKeeping the team focused on working

together as a teamFacilitating meetingsDocumentingSupporting the team within the organization

TasksTasks

Collaborating and reaching consensusCommunications with team membersCommunicating with people outside the

teamContributing to the team effortSeeking resources and support

Formal RolesFormal Roles

Team leaderTeam facilitatorTeam memberTeam sponsor (mentor, advisor, coach)Team recorder

Informal RolesInformal Roles

Clarifier Compromiser Consensus Taker Encourager Opinion Seeker Follower Gatekeeper Intitiator

Orienter Reality tester Standard Setter Summarizer Harmonizer Information Seeker Informer