Successful Collaboration and Team Dynamics

COM/516 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

CHANADA TURNER

OSCAR VALENZUELA

JAMES PHILLIPS

Teaming up For SuccessThe value of team collaboration for academic success:

-Opportunity to learn

-Places focus on strength of individual team members

-Creates opportunity to work towards common goal

-Provides stability within the team

-Allows for the sharing of new ideas and ways to implement strategies

-Creates an atmosphere of successful transitioning from the school to the work place

Strategies + Conflict Resolution =

Growth and LearningStrategies in using conflict resolution as opportunities for learning:

-Listen to all member’s issue regarding the conflict

-Ask questions or give feedback only pertaining to the conflict not member’s assumptions

-Focus placed on peaceful agreement

-Refrain finger pointing which can decrease morale and the spirit of the team

-Refrain from being disrespectful towards others opinions

-Utilize the A. E. I. O. U. method

• A- Assume every team member means well

• E- Express your feelings appropriately

• I- Identify what you want to see happen

• O- Outcome- express the outcome you want but be open to other options

• U- Understand- All should understand the agreement and committed to the resolution

(Wisinski, 1993)

A Team’s Greatest Ally: CommunicationThe following communication skills are necessary for an effective learning team:

-Know how to get in touch with your team members

-Decide how communication will be done early on

-Respond to members request in a timely manner (maximum time within 24 hours)

-Don’t be afraid to provide feedback to team members

-Be receptive to the feedback from others on the team

-Express your feelings about an idea

-Be open to ideas that are different from your own

-Understand that you may not agree with every idea but be willing to experiment with new ideas

Working In A Team

Team Member’s Work Style:

- The team member’s work style is defined by a member’s strengths, potential, and boundaries of comfort.

Boundary of Comfort:

- Our boundary of comfort is the flexible limit of the things we can do; we can go beyond this boundary when we are challenged by others to use our strengths, to achieve our potentials.

Motivational Strategies to Increase Productivity

Team Member’s Purpose:

- Proper connection of a team member’s work style to member’s role and tasks, within the team, promotes good team cohesion.

Team Motivation:

- A set of well outlined goals, objectives and possible rewards adds to team’s efficiency and willingness to contribute to the team effort.

Team Feedback:

- A properly functioning team requires a continuous system of objective feedback. If the team is to be productive and motivated, each member must be open to give as well as receive constructive criticism.

Learning Team CharterThe Purpose of the Learning Team Charter:

- To establish general expectations for team members

- To establish guidelines for effective communication throughout the process

- To establish contribution and workload amongst each team member

- To ensure equal participation within the team

- To ensure a clear understanding and approach to team conflict, time management, and communication

Learning Team Charter as

ReinforcementBeing able to use the Learning Team Charter as a tool of reinforcement for team collaboration and contribution to team success is imperative because:

- It holds each team member accountable for their contribution and effective communication

- It gets the team to the “performing stage” quicker and ensures every members contribution

- It is always present and assures each team member rights to give feedback if a team member is not holding up to the charter

Effective Components for

Team SuccessBeing able to identify your team’s strengthens and weaknesses will be key to how successful your team is. Here are some components that can be used for team success:

- Successfully complete the team charter and ensure each team member has contributed in the chartering process

- Make sure each team member’s contact information is complete and correct, updating when necessary

- Be available during the times that you stated in the charter

- Keep all lines of communication open

- Be receptive to constructive criticism and feedback

- Complete given workload in a timely manner

- Be respectful of each others ideas and opinions

- Have fun and learn from each other

ResourcesDesign: A team approach [Video file]. (2010). In Films On Demand. Retrieved June 10, 2015,

from http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=7967&xtid=42222

Esquivel, M. A., & Kleiner, B. H. (1997). The importance of conflict in work team effectiveness.

Team Performance Management, 3(2), 89. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/217105723?accountid=35812

University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team Toolkit. Available on the University

of Phoenix student/faculty website: http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (June 13, 2015).

University of Phoenix. (2014). Team Based Learning. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, COM/516

Professional Communications website.

University of Phoenix. (2014). Why Learning Teams. Retrieved from University of Phoenix,

COM/516 Professional Communications website.

Wisinski, J. (1993). Resolving conflicts on the job. New York: American Management

Association, pp. 27-31.