Working in Teams
Dr. Ken Haycock
February, 2007
Six Phases of Project
Enthusiasm
 Disillusionment
 Panic
 Search for the guilty
 Punish the innocent
 Praise and honor the non-participants
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Overview
definitions
 criteria for success
 stages in team growth
 common problems
 other considerations
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Learners retain…
10% of what we READ
20% of what we HEAR
30% of what we SEE
50% of what we SEE and HEAR
70% of what we TALK OVER WITH OTHERS
80% of what we USE AND DO IN REAL LIFE
95% of what we TEACH SOMEONE ELSE
Margaret Trask, AIMA Training and Consulting, National Library of Australia, From a paper presented at the IFLA Preconference
on Continuing Education, 1993.
Definitions
committee
 group
 team
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Definition of Teams
A team is a small number of people
with complementary skills
who are committed to a common
purpose,
common performance goals and
a common approach,
and for which they hold themselves
mutually accountable.
Katzenbach, J. & Smith, D. (1993). The wisdom of teams. Harvard Business School Press.
My Contribution…
What strengths do I bring to my
team?
 What behaviours of other members of
the team really “push my buttons”?
 What are the implications for how we
work together?
 How do I need to modify my
preferences for the sake of team
performance?
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Criteria for Success
clarity in team goals
clearly defined roles/responsibilities
established ground rules
clear communication
beneficial team behaviors
balanced participation
Peter Scholtes et al. (1988). The team handbook. Joiner Associates.
Criteria for Success
well-defined decision procedures
awareness of both content and
process
productive use of conflict
use of evidence
[scientific approach]
an improvement plan
Peter Scholtes et al. (1988). The team handbook. Joiner Associates.
Stages of Team Development
STAGE 1: Forming
STAGE 2: Storming
STAGE 3: Norming
STAGE 4: Performing
Peter Scholtes et al. (1988). The team handbook. Joiner Associates.
Leading Team Development
STAGE 1:
Forming
STAGE 2:
Storming
STAGE 3:
Norming
STAGE 4:
Performing
Peter Scholtes et al. (1988). The team handbook.
Joiner Associates.
 Characteristics
of Each
 Typical
Behaviors to
Expect
 Action
Required
The Search for Clarity
What will be our goals?
 What are the characteristics of an
effective team leader?
 What are the other roles and
responsibilities in our team?
 What will be our ground rules?
 What will be the consequences for
noncompliance?
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Common Problems
foundering
overbearing participants
dominating participants
reluctant participants
feuding members
Common Problems
attribution
 wanderlust: digressions and
tangents
discounts and “plops”
unquestioned acceptance of opinion
as fact
rush to accomplishment
Dysfunctional Behaviors
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blocking
power-seeking
recognition-seeking
rejecting
refusing
clowning
Managing Conflict
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decide if the conflict is worth confronting
Initiate the conflict in a non-defensive way
define the problem(identify specifics, listen,
agree to causes)
generate feasible solution(s)
plan the implementation
plan an evaluation
--Blanchard Training and Development
Stages of Team Development
STAGE 1: Forming
STAGE 2: Storming
STAGE 3: Norming
STAGE 4: Performing
High Performance
Purpose
 Empowerment
 Relationship and Communication
 Flexibility
 Optimal Performance
 Recognition and Appreciation
 Morale

Team Meetings
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so… why bother?
planning/goals
roles/responsibilities
logistics, rules
assessment
In essence...
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groups have patterns of development
development is not automatic
groups can be normal or dysfunctional
healthy groups are the result of the positive
individual energy of motivated people
group health is everyone's responsibility
--Blanchard Training and Development
To your success...
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characteristics
criteria
what to expect
the process
monitor and adjust
continuous improvement
More information?
Baldwin, D. & Migneault, R. (1996). Humanistic
management by teamwork: An organizational and
administrative alternative for academic libraries.
Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.
Katzenbach, J. & Smith, D. (1993). The wisdom of teams.
Cambridge: Harvard Business School Press.
Scholtes. P. et al. (1988). The team handbook: How to
use teams to improve quality. Joiner Associates.
Wellins, R., Byham, W. & Dixon, G. (1994). Inside teams.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.