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.