Unit 104 (1gen4) Hand-out
Work effectively as part of a hospitality team
The Importance of Working Together as a Team
One of the major benefits of teamwork is getting things done in less time. When
leaders involve their teams to brainstorm together to find a solution, they will get many
different and creative ideas. This effort will enable them to implement the best action plan
and assign the tasks to the people involved. When everyone in the team knows that he has a
part in the process and the end result, he will put in the efforts to get it completed.
Teamwork helps individuals raise their self-esteem. Everyone wants to feel
important and needed. When each person is aware of his role and that he is part of a team,
he gets a sense of belonging. He will use his talents and creativity to do his best.
Teamwork promotes unity, rapport and bonding. When people work together, they
are able to give and take, help and support one another because the main focus is to
accomplish their mission.
One of the advantages of teamwork is it helps individuals develop personal
responsibility. Even though the main focus is the team's goal, each person knows that he is
accountable and is responsible to do his part or role.
A person who participates in a team's effort will develop the right attitude. They
will learn a lot of things than can help them advance in their career and personal life. They
will become aware of the importance of communication, decision making, planning and
preparation and taking constructive action.
The other one of the benefits of teamwork is, the task assigned becomes fun
instead of a chore or feeling all alone. When people do something in a state of joy,
they are very resourceful. They find it easy to learn new skills. They may even outdo their
best and discover that they have abilities that they weren't aware of.
Handout prepared by: Rob Hughes (V1 – Dec12)
Page 1 of 6
Planning work
Step 1
Identify the scope and goals of the planning process related to each work activity.
Determine what you need to accomplish for the success of the activity or project. Identify
the employees who will play a role in the task if it is a team project.
Step 2
Break down the major tasks for the activity into smaller steps that you need to
take for completion, essentially creating a to-do list for the project. If other employees are
working on the tasks with you, assign each person a role and specific responsibilities to
divide the workload.
Step 3
Establish the timeline for completing the work activity. Assign each individual task
that goes into the activity a completion date to make sure everything is completed in a
timely manner. Give yourself enough time to complete all associated tasks before the
deadline passes.
Step 4
Write each due date for the project tasks on your calendar, or set up reminders
that pop up on your computer screen as the deadlines approach.
Step 5
Identify potential problems or barriers you may face for the work activities.
Create an action plan to avoid those issues to keep the project on track.
Step 6
Utilize an online project management program for major work activities that are
critical to the company's success. These programs are particularly effective for complicated
projects or activities that involve many team members. The progress is tracked and all
employees can stay updated through the program.
Handout prepared by: Rob Hughes (V1 – Dec12)
Page 2 of 6
Step 7
Schedule planning meetings when active participation and feedback is needed
from others working on the project. Keep the meetings focused and productive to use the
time efficiently.
Step 8
Send out regular updates and communication to all other employees who are
working on the project. This allows all team members to stay informed and update their
to-do lists and timelines as necessary.
Communication
What would be considered good or effective communication? It would be
communication in which:




The sender and receiver of information are properly matched
The message is communicated clearly – i.e. without misunderstanding or
misinterpretation
Communication is made using an appropriate communication channel and/or method
The receiver of the communication is able to pass on any relevant and appropriate
feedback (i.e. two-way communication)
There are many reasons why it is important for a business to achieve effective
communication:





Motivates employees – helps them feel part of business
Easier to control and coordinate business activity – prevents different parts of
business going in opposite directions
Makes successful decision making easier – decisions are based on more complete
and accurate information
Better communication with customers will increase sales
Improve relationships with suppliers
Handout prepared by: Rob Hughes (V1 – Dec12)
Page 3 of 6

Improves chances of obtaining finance – e.g. keeping bank up-to-date about how
business is doing
Effective/ineffective behaviours in the workplace
Counterproductive work behaviour is also a type of work behaviour. Most of the people do
not know what counterproductive work behaviour is. Even people do not recognize this
behaviour, it seems normal to them. Here are some examples in order to understand what
counterproductive behaviour is:







When someone is ignoring people at work.
When people work slowly and the work needs to be done fast.
When people refuse to help their colleagues.
When people refuse to accept a task.
When people show less interest in their work.
When people show destructive behaviour against their colleagues.
When people do not appreciate their colleague's success.
Effective communication in the workplace




Think about what you say, before you say it
Listen first. Communication is a two-way process
Ask questions to show you are listening and to ensure you understand what
someone is saying
Try to anticipate potential confusion before it happens
Handout prepared by: Rob Hughes (V1 – Dec12)
Page 4 of 6









Think about what the person needs to know and what they don’t (for
example, there is no point giving someone a 12 page background document when
the executive summary would suffice)
Try to see things from others’ perspectives
Think about the way you deliver/the best channel for your message (for
example email alone may not be suitable for complex issues – try following up with a
phone call or meeting)
Have someone QA important documents and emails to provide feedback on
any confusion
Pay attention to body language (your own and others)
Use diagrams and charts where relevant (we can process pictures and images
very effectively)
Try to understand what the underlying concept of your message is to simplify it if
possible
Try to be enthusiastic when appropriate
Learn from your interactions – positive and negative
Developing skills
It is important that you identify and appreciate what you consider to be your
skills, abilities and personal qualities. Only when you do this can you then confidently
demonstrate these on your CV and be able to market yourself effectively to potential
employers. An added advantage of assessing yourself is that you will be able to identify
your weaknesses, and thereby plan to improve and upgrade them.
Being able to communicate your work experience and knowledge to an employer
and also match their requirements is vital for successful job hunting. By using a little time
and effort to assess yourself it will be easier later on for you to match and demonstrate
your abilities to the needs of recruiters.
What is a skill
A skill is something that you are good at doing, it could come naturally to you or be
something you have learnt through experience or training. Having the right skills can go
along way to helping you get the job you want.
Handout prepared by: Rob Hughes (V1 – Dec12)
Page 5 of 6
How to assess your skills
Start off by creating a list on a piece of paper of what you believe you are good
at. Do this by reviewing your current and previous jobs and listing particular career skills
you have gained, put them under different topics headings.
Handout prepared by: Rob Hughes (V1 – Dec12)
Page 6 of 6