Teamwork : What’s in it for me?Lisa Harris

Staff Operations Manager,

Weapons Engineering Division

Los Alamos National Laboratory

OverviewOverview

What is teamwork, really?Communication demoSetting Goals7 Essential Skills for Teamwork

Teamwork Teamwork

“Work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole”

» http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teamwork

Basically, collaboration, cooperation, coordination

More on TeamworkMore on Teamwork

“There is no I in teamwork” BUT… there is a “me” – each student

• Must have an interest in the team• Must have a desire to the direction and completion

of the task• Must understand “what is in it for me”

Communication IS essential

DEMO : Simple Dress

Establishing Clear GoalsEstablishing Clear Goals

When you set goals for your team, you are giving them a purpose. Encourage “group think” Reminder: this is not a team of 1

When the goals are clear, people know exactly what they need to do. It gives them focus to work on.

More Goal SettingMore Goal Setting

Clear goal setting helps you to distribute work in the right manner. If requirements are clear, it is easier to assess

which members of your team can handle which jobs effectively.

Identify long term objectives and set short term goals Constant communication will help

7 Essential Skills for Teamwork7 Essential Skills for Teamwork

1. Listening

2. Questioning

3. Persuading

4. Respecting

5. Helping

6. Sharing

7. Participating

ListeningListening

Each person needs to listen to each other’s ideas

Encourage feedback and dialogNew ideas or concepts can evolve from

building off of one another

QuestioningQuestioning

Encourage students to interact, discuss and poise opposing ideas to questions

Challenge them to think “outside the box”One person’s confusion or

misunderstanding can stonewall a solution

PersuadingPersuading

Encourage students to exchange, defend and rethink ideas

Each will need to evaluate what they are willing to sacrifice and what they are not willing to give up “Pick your battle”

RespectingRespecting

Each person deserves to be treated with respect, as well as their ideas

Students need to encourage and support each other Especially if they are falling behind schedule

HelpingHelping

Encourage students to share Offer ideas and share ideas with one another Help in areas where there is confusion or

“stalling” Don’t wait until it is too late!

ParticipatingParticipating

Hard work and dedication are essential Identify areas where each person has

strengths and interest Encourage students to prepare a plan with

milestones to make sure things are not falling off the radar

SummarySummary

Teaming is not hard, but it does take effort!

Encourage dialog and continual communication

Offer your support and guidance Don’t be too busy to help!