When Teams Work BestWhen Teams Work BestA Book byA Book by Frank LaFasto Frank LaFasto

& Carl Larson& Carl Larson

Featuring:Featuring:The Connect ModelThe Connect Model

What is teamwork?What is teamwork?““People with different views and People with different views and

perspectives coming together, perspectives coming together, putting aside their narrow self-putting aside their narrow self-interests, and discussing issues interests, and discussing issues openly and supportively in an openly and supportively in an attempt to solve a larger problem attempt to solve a larger problem or achieve a broader goal.”or achieve a broader goal.”

One of the most common reasons One of the most common reasons why teams fail to achieve their why teams fail to achieve their

potential is a problematic potential is a problematic relationship.relationship.

What is a good relationship? What is a good relationship? Good relationships are…Good relationships are…

Constructive for both Constructive for both peoplepeople

ProductiveProductive

Characterized by mutual Characterized by mutual understandingunderstanding

Self-correctiveSelf-corrective

What Behaviors are What Behaviors are Most Important in a Most Important in a TeamTeam RelationshipRelationship??

Openness – the willingness to Openness – the willingness to communicatecommunicate

Supportiveness – the deliberate Supportiveness – the deliberate attempt to treat others positivelyattempt to treat others positively

What is the Greatest What is the Greatest Challenge in Team Challenge in Team

Relationships?Relationships?OpennessOpenness

SupportivenessSupportiveness

“We must be able to challenge each other more without becoming defensive.”

Feedback is a gift… but Feedback is a gift… but feedback can be feedback can be

threatening! It’s difficult threatening! It’s difficult to give well and hard to to give well and hard to

receive objectively.receive objectively.

Poorly Managed Contention can Poorly Managed Contention can lead to Dysfunctional Behaviorlead to Dysfunctional BehaviorAvoidance of each otherAvoidance of each other

Communication becomes indirect (e-mail, Communication becomes indirect (e-mail, memos, messengers)memos, messengers)

Superficial conversationSuperficial conversation

Authenticity is replaced by theatrics Authenticity is replaced by theatrics

Contentious atmosphere Contentious atmosphere

Overreaction to “interpretive clues”Overreaction to “interpretive clues”

What are the Results of What are the Results of dysfunctional behavior?dysfunctional behavior?

Personal agendas compromise the Personal agendas compromise the team’s ability to identify, raise, and team’s ability to identify, raise, and resolve the real issues that will resolve the real issues that will move the team toward its objectivemove the team toward its objective

The Connect ModelThe Connect ModelA proven approach to A proven approach to building effective team building effective team

relationshipsrelationships

The Connect ModelThe Connect ModelRecognizes relationships take two Recognizes relationships take two peoplepeople

It is a process we do It is a process we do withwith someone not someone not to to someonesomeone

It works best when both parties It works best when both parties understand the processunderstand the process

Connect ModelConnect ModelStep by StepStep by Step

CCommit to the relationshipommit to the relationshipOOptimize safetyptimize safetyNNarrow to one issuearrow to one issueNNeutralize defensivenesseutralize defensivenessEExplain and echoxplain and echoCChange one behavior eachhange one behavior eachTTrack it!rack it!

Commitment to the Commitment to the RelationshipRelationship

Why do I believe this is worth doing?Why do I believe this is worth doing? I value our relationship and would like for it to I value our relationship and would like for it to

be as good as possiblebe as good as possible There is much that we can accomplish There is much that we can accomplish

togethertogether We can learn from each otherWe can learn from each other

Am I willing to work at it?Am I willing to work at it? I am willing to invest my energy and effort to I am willing to invest my energy and effort to

make our relationship bettermake our relationship better Connect

Optimizing SafetyOptimizing SafetyI will do my best to not make you feel I will do my best to not make you feel defensive, or make you feel “less” defensive, or make you feel “less” because of how I handle this conversation.because of how I handle this conversation.

I will make a rational effort to understand I will make a rational effort to understand and appreciate your point of view.and appreciate your point of view.

Connect

Narrow to one issueNarrow to one issueIdentify one issue in a non-threatening way.Identify one issue in a non-threatening way. ““I believe our most immediate/important I believe our most immediate/important

opportunity is in the area of….opportunity is in the area of….How we treat each other at meetings.How we treat each other at meetings.How we keep each other informed.How we keep each other informed.How we involve each other in decisions.How we involve each other in decisions.How we show respect to one another.How we show respect to one another.The level of trust in our relationship.The level of trust in our relationship.How we each view…our marketplace, How we each view…our marketplace, product development, etc.product development, etc. Connect

Neutralize DefensivenessNeutralize Defensiveness

What are some ways I might treat this What are some ways I might treat this issue that would make you feel defensive?issue that would make you feel defensive? What words, comments, or examples should I What words, comments, or examples should I

avoid?avoid?

If I do make you feel defensive, please let If I do make you feel defensive, please let me know so we can discuss it before it me know so we can discuss it before it becomes a problem.becomes a problem.

Connect

Explain and EchoExplain and EchoExplain what you observe, how it makes you Explain what you observe, how it makes you feel, and the long-term consequences.feel, and the long-term consequences. I I observe….observe….

When we are doing “xyz” together….When we are doing “xyz” together….

When you do/ don’t do “xyz” ….When you do/ don’t do “xyz” …. It makes meIt makes me feel…. feel…. I believe the long-termI believe the long-term consequences consequences are….are…. I feel there is a solution to this, but first let meI feel there is a solution to this, but first let me check check

to see if I was clear and if you understand what I’m to see if I was clear and if you understand what I’m trying to convey to you.trying to convey to you. (cont)(cont)

Connect

Explain and EchoExplain and EchoEcho what the other person has said.Echo what the other person has said. Let me see if I can describe your perspective Let me see if I can describe your perspective

and your feelings.and your feelings. Do I understand?Do I understand?

Change One Behavior EachChange One Behavior Each

In light of our discussion, what In light of our discussion, what reasonable change should each of us reasonable change should each of us commit to making? Let’s agree on commit to making? Let’s agree on one stop/start behavior for each of us.one stop/start behavior for each of us.

Connect

Track it!Track it!

What would be the most useful What would be the most useful way to monitor our progress?way to monitor our progress?

Connect

Benefits of the Connect Benefits of the Connect ModelModel

Give a team practice in surfacing and resolving Give a team practice in surfacing and resolving issues collaboratively.issues collaboratively.

Takes team relationships out of the shadowsTakes team relationships out of the shadows

The presence of a structured approach for The presence of a structured approach for discussing difficult issues is always better than discussing difficult issues is always better than random discussion.random discussion.

Practice at a structured approach makes the Practice at a structured approach makes the teams stronger and prepares the team to teams stronger and prepares the team to manage greater challenges in the future.manage greater challenges in the future.

Matthew 5:23-24Matthew 5:23-24

"Therefore, if you are offering your "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has remember that your brother has something against you, leave your something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your brother; then come and offer your gift”.gift”.