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Team-Building
The performance level of any team is a function of the content and
process expertise team members bring to their assigned task. Having a high
level of content expertise is a great starting point, but it doesn't
guarantee high performance. Team members must also be skilled in group
process—in knowing how to combine their individual content expertise and
finally in being able to act on what they know.
Team-building is a systematic way to enhance a group's ability to
perform consistently at high levels. The team-building workbook helps
team members organize their thoughts, feelings, and observations about how
the team is functioning and provides a way to share their individual
perceptions and reach mutual understandings.
An off-site workshop is an excellent way to begin a team-building effort,
but in the long run, team-building needs to become an ongoing process,
a normal part of the team's day-to-day work. The truth is, a team-building
opportunity occurs every time two or more members of the team
interact—whether the interaction is a five-minute phone conversation or a
four-hour staff meeting.
The way team members treat each other in such interactions leaves them
feeling better about their team involvement or worse. The team leader can
never be present or even aware of all these kinds of interactions among
team members, so it's imperative that they all share responsibility for
team development.
Every team member has four distinct areas of
responsibility in team-building:
- Tending to their personal development of content and process
skills
- Contributing to the development of other team members, including
their manager
- Contributing to the continuous improvement of team processes
- Improving teamwork at the interfaces with customers and suppliers
No matter what the current level of functioning of a team, there's always
room to improve it. It may not always be comfortable. You may need to talk
directly about topics everyone has been avoiding. There may be disagreements
as to what is keeping the team from being more effective. This is all part
of the process of getting clarity about what's happening, what's important
and figuring out how to improve performance.
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