Professional Development Teams and Teamwork
“The way a team plays as a whole determines success. You may have the greatest bunch of
individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”
-Babe Ruth
ASSIGNMENT
Read: Characteristics of Effective Teams and Team Members and Pit Crews Are Team Players
Discuss: Identify what a team is, multiple characteristics of an effective team
Write: A reflection that recognizes what characteristics make a team and what strategies lead
to a team’s effectiveness. Relate these things to a personal experience on a team.
Teamwork is defined in Webster's New World Dictionary as "a joint action by a group of people,
in which each person subordinates his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and
efficiency of the group." This does not mean that the individual is no longer important;
however, it does mean that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond individual
accomplishments. The most effective teamwork is produced when all the individuals involved
harmonize their contributions and work towards a common goal.
Characteristics of Effective Teams
The following are eight characteristics of effective teams. The team must have a clear goal.
Team goals should call for a specific performance objective, expressed so concisely that
everyone knows when the objective has been met.
1. The team must have a results-driven structure. The team should be allowed to operate
in a manner that produces results. It is often best to allow the team to develop the
structure.
2. The team must have competent team members. In the education setting this can be
taken to mean that the problem given to the team should be one that the members can
tackle given their level of knowledge.
3. The team must have unified commitment. This doesn't mean that team members must
agree on everything. It means that all individuals must be directing their efforts towards
the goal. If an individual's effort is going purely towards personal goals, then the team
will confront this and resolve the problem.
4. The team must have a collaborative climate. It is a climate of trust produced by honest,
open, consistent and respectful behavior. With this climate teams perform
well...without it, they fail.
5. The team must have high standards that are understood by all. Team members must
know what is expected of them individually and collectively. Vague statements such as
"positive attitude" and "demonstrated effort" are not good enough.
6. The team must receive external support and encouragement. Encouragement and
praise works just as well in motivating teams as it does with individuals.
7. The team must have principled leadership. Teams usually need someone to lead the
effort. Team members must know that the team leader has the position because they
have good leadership skills and are working for the good of the team. The team
members will be less supportive if they feel that the team leader is putting him/herself
above the team, achieving personal recognition or otherwise benefiting from the
position.
Characteristics of Effective Team Members
1. Support and help the team leader to succeed
2. Express favorable and unfavorable opinions
3. Respect all viewpoints that are explored
4. Provide open, honest and accurate information
5. Act in a positive and constructive manner
6. Accept ownership for team decisions
7. Address problems to the team and maintain confidentiality
8. View criticism as an opportunity to learn
9. State problems, along with alternative solutions/options
10. Show loyalty to the organizations, the team leader and the team
Pit Crews Are Team Players
Pit crews are critical to the success of professional racecar drivers. The crew may include a chief
mechanic, general manager, driver assistant, fuel person, tire person, transportation personnel,
and others. Pit crews must set up the pit hours before the race. They make sure gasoline, tires
and anything else they may possibly need is available in the pit.
Before the race, the pit crews wheel pit buggies and huge toolboxes into the pit area. The
equipment and supplies include jacks, spare chassis, drink holder with extended handle for the
driver, brush with extended handle to clean the car’s grill, and spare shocks. Three gas cans,
each containing 11 gallons of fuels, are placed in the pit. There is also a broom in the pit for
cleanup, and a gas catch-can to catch excess fuel during a fill-up. There are various lubricants,
mufflers, lug nuts, sets of spare tires, and sometimes even a spare steering wheel. The list of
items needed during a race is quite lengthy. If something is needed in a race and is not in the
pit, a crew member must run to the garage to get it. That takes valuable racing time.
Around the pit buggy, five air wrenches are carefully placed. Hoses connecting them with
nitrogen tanks are coiled and secured so nobody trips over them. The nitrogen tanks provide
the pressure needed to operate the wrenches.
Probably one of the most important tools used during pit stops is a two-way radio. Before the
driver comes down pit road, he can tell his crew about any problems the car has. He can talk
with his crew for instructions, such as when to pit and how many tires will be changed.
Only seven crew members are allowed over the pit wall at any time to work on the car, so
special tricks are used to perform work at lightning speed. Pit crews can change four tires and
add 22 gallons of fuel to the car in less than 28 seconds. The actual fueling process on a stock
car only takes ten or eleven seconds.
For the driver to win the race, the team has to functions like clockwork. Each member has to
know his or her job well and be highly skilled. The successful team not only helps the driver win
a race but also assures a safe race without injuries.
Questions to Discuss:
1. What characteristics of an effective team are evident in a pit crew at a professional car
race?
2. How does teamwork solve the problems associated with driving racecars in
competition?
Copyright Goodheart-Wilcox co., Inc.
Permission granted to reproduce for educational use.