Importance of Teamwork in
Community Organizations
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS, BS
Karyn Cichoski
Patricia Elliot
Amy Glavan
Tamara Jandro
110
Purpose
LEARNING HOW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
USE TEAMS IN EVERYDAY FUNCTIONS BY
CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS
FOCUS AREAS:
JOB DUTIES
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
LISTENING SKILLS
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
DIVERSITY
Organizations and Contacts
McDonald’s
Restaurant
Opportunity Manor
Group Home
• Paula Gust, Store
Manager
• Andrea Masbo,
Program Coordinator
Fleet Farm Retail
Store
Glencoe Regional
Hospital
• Chuck, Lawn and
Garden Department
Head
• Michelle Eggers,
Delivery RN
Interview Questions
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
What are your job duties that require teamwork?
How does nonverbal communication determine team
success?
How do listening skills determine team success?
How are conflicts handled at your organization?
What is the greatest advantage of teamwork?
What is the greatest disadvantage of teamwork?
How diverse is your team?
Restaurant/Store Interview Results
MCDONALD’S RESTAURANT
FLEET FARM RETAIL STORE
McDonald’s: Paula Gust, Store Manager
Job duties requiring teamwork
Interacting with owner, employees, customers
Nonverbal communication importance
Gesturing: “Actions speak louder than words”
Listening skills importance
Preventing communication breakdown
Conflict management techniques
Resolving privately and informally
McDonald’s Continued
Teamwork advantage
Building employee morale
Teamwork disadvantage
Decreasing employee morale
Team diversity
Hiring 14+, novice crew - experienced managers
Fleet Farm: Chuck, Lawn and Garden Department
Head
Job duties requiring teamwork
Overseeing work, leading, encouraging
Nonverbal communication importance
Anticipating others’ moods and behaviors
Listening skills importance
Making things clear with feedback
Conflict management techniques
Talking individually and as a group
Fleet Farm Continued
Teamwork advantage
Making things easier, faster
Teamwork disadvantage
Lacking equal contribution
Team diversity
Employing three different generations
Healthcare Interview Results
OPPORTUNITY MANOR GROUP HOME
GLENCOE REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Opportunity Manor: Andrea Masbo, Group Home
Program Coordinator
Job duties requiring teamwork
Scheduling, performance reviews, committee meetings
Nonverbal communication importance
Signaling stress level to group members
Listening skills importance
Ensuring proper training by feedback
Conflict management techniques
Setting aside time for group meetings
Opportunity Manor Continued
Teamwork advantage
Preventing burnout
Teamwork disadvantage
Lacking consistency in large groups
Team diversity
Ranging from novice CNAs – experienced RNs
Glencoe Regional Hospital: Michelle Eggers,
Delivery RN
Job duties requiring teamwork
Caring for patients before, during, and after delivery
Nonverbal communication importance
Signaling patients’ or coworkers’ needs
Listening skills importance
Making care flow smoother with feedback
Conflict management techniques
Handling immediately and one-on-one
Glencoe Regional Hospital, Continued
Teamwork advantage
Improving patient healthcare
Teamwork disadvantage
Neglecting patient care sometimes
Team diversity
Including male and female nurses, 2 year degree – Master’s
Summary/Discussion/Analysis
WHAT CAN BE LEARNED ABOUT TEAMWORK
FROM THESE INTERVIEWS?
Learning Points 1 and 2
1) Knowing individual job duties within the team
is vital.
Individual tasks contribute to team goal
Cooperate instead of competing
2) Nonverbal communication of individual group
members reflects positively or negatively on the
team.
Gestures speak louder than words
Nonverbal messages often believed over verbal
Learning Points 3 and 4
3) Listening skills prevent miscommunication.
Feedback in the form of questions
Summarize what a speaker is saying
4) Dealing with conflict correctly keeps the team
on track.
Conflict should be resolved promptly
Conflict can be resolved one-on-one or in a group
Learning Points 5 and 6
5) Every team has advantages and disadvantages.
Teamwork requires a positive “can do” attitude
Members’ personalities complement or complicate team goals
6) Diversity within a team keeps the team open
minded.
Multi-generational
Multi-cultural
Multi-national
Conclusion
Teamwork in a business or organization depends
on several focus areas:
Applying nonverbal skills
Developing listening skills
Using conflict resolution skills
Knowing team strengths and weaknesses
Having a diverse team background
Teams that are aware of these focus areas are
likely to be cohesive and successful.
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