Teamwork and Communications
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Chapter Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The team and the organization
Why teamwork works
The team and its members
The business of communication
Communication channels
Forms of communication
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Team
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• “…a group of people with complementary skills
who work together to achieve a specific goal.”
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Group v. Team
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Group- members work independently and
come together primarily to share information
Teams- common goals and empowered to make
decisions
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Team Characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Accountable for specific goals
Function interdependently
Are stable
Have authority
Operate in social context
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Why Teams
30 - 40% more productive
Reduce errors 13%
However, 50 – 70% fail
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Effect on
Workplace Performance
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Types of Teams
o Manager-Led
o Self-Managing
o Cross-Functional
o Virtual
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Effective Teamwork Factors
 Depend on each other
 Trust one another
 Work better together than individually
 Become boosters
 Enjoy being on the team
 Leadership rotates
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Group
Cohesiveness- Attractiveness
Size
Similarity
Success
Exclusiveness
Competition
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Why Teams Fail
Unwillingness to cooperate
Lack of managerial support
Failure to delegate authority
Failure to cooperate
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What Causes High-Potential
Leadership Candidates to Fail?
60% = Inability to work in teams
9% = Lack of technical ability
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Team Skills Needed
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Technical
Decision-making & problem solving
Interpersonal
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Team Member Roles
A.
Task-Facilitating
–
–
B.
Relationship-Building
–
–
–
C.
Monitoring
Enforcing
Confronting
Empathizing
Consensus Building
Blocking
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Class Team Projects
1.
Dream up team
charter
2.
Contribute ideas
3.
Never miss a meeting
4.
Be considerate of each
other
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5. Create process for
resolving conflict
6. Use strengths of each
team member
7. Don’t do all the work
yourself
8. Set deadlines
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What Does It
Take to Lead Team?
•Demonstrate integrity
•Be clear & concise
•Generate positive energy
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•Acknowledge common
points of view
•Manage agreement &
disagreement
•Encourage/coach
•Share information
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Communication
• “…the process of transferring
information from a sender to a
receiver.”
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Need for Communication Skills
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oConvincing decisions & faster
solution
oWarning signs appear earlier
oSmooth workflow & increased
productivity
oStronger business relationships
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oPersuasive marketing
oProfessional image enhanced
oEmployee satisfaction up &
turnover down
oBetter financial results for firm
& investors
Communication Flows
Communication Flows
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Informal Communication
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What To Do About “Grapevine”
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Learn to live with it
Tune into it
Don’t participate in rumors
Check out what you hear
Take advantage of it
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Listening
•“…80% rated...as an most
important skill in getting
things done...”
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Barriers to Communication
Cultural
Functional
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Tips for Writing E-Mails
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Formal/Informal
Meaningful subject
line
Keep message focused
& readable
Avoid attachments
ID yourself
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7.
8.
9.
10.
Be kind
Proofread
Don’t assume privacy
Respond promptly
Show respect &
restraint
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Prepare/Deliver Presentations
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Plan- audience
• Knowledge level
• Interest
Prepare
• Opening
• Body
• Close
Practice
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Present
• Dress
• Arrive early
• Connect
• Take time
• Act natural
• Main point
• Avoid reading
Visual Aids
Guidelines to an Effective Memo
Follow format- guide headings
Paragraphs short & to point
Accent/highlight major point
Short headings
Title
Key points
Exhibits = attachments
Staple
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Nonverbal Communication
“...‘nonword’ messages
communicated through facial
expressions, posture, gestures
and tone of voice.”
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