How Teams Work

Task and Maintenance Needs

Task Activities – Any activity a team member does that contributes to thegroup’s performance purpose.

Maintenance Activities – Any action taken by a team member that supportsthe emotional life of the group.

The team leader is usually going to handle these, but these activities should be shared by everyone.

Task and Maintenance Needs

What are some Task Activities we can think of?

Task activities-----------------------------------------------------Initiating -Elaborating

-Information sharing -Opinion giving

-Summarizing

Maintenance activities-----------------------------------------------------Gatekeeping -Following-Encouraging -Harmonizing

-Reducing Tension

Team leaders should avoid disruptive activities

--------------------------------------------------------Being Aggressive -Competing-Blocking -Withdrawal-Self-confessing -Horsing around-Seeking sympathy -Seeking recognition

Communication Networks

Communication is Key!

Decentralized communication network – Everyone can talk to everyone at any time.

Centralized Communication network – There is a “center point” or “hub” that everyone has to report to.

Decision-making in Teams

There are 6 ways that teams can make decisions.

Lack of response – No evaluation is done. Options are listed, but not discussed.

Authority rule – Leader makes the decision.

Minority rule – Small number of people in the team dominate discussion and “railroad” the team.

Majority rule – Polling or voting finds the majority view.

Consensus – Like majority rule, but discussions are better, everyone feels heard and they get a say.

Unanimity – All members agree.

Positives and Negatives of Group Decisions

Good leaders VARY decision-making methods depending on the situation.

Leaders must know the good and the bad effects of group decisions.

Positives and Negatives of Group Decisions

Positives

More information, knowledge, and expertise is available for problems.

Expand alternatives, open up options.

Increases understanding and acceptance by members.

Commitment by the members is increased.

Positives and Negatives of Group Decisions

Negatives

Pressure to conform.

Individuals might feel intimidated or feel like they have to go along with others.

Might be minority domination.

Takes a lot of time.

Asch Conformity Experiment

37% of test subjects in that experiment went along with the wrong answers even if they did not believe them to be true.

The video

Sometimes, a group that is too close is a bad thing.

Sometimes, people do things they do not want to do because it could ruin the team’s cohesion. Groupthink is the tendency for highly cohesive teams to lose their ability to evaluate.

If there is loyalty amongst members, there is the chance that criticism does not happen.

Here is how we spot when groupthink could be happening.

Groupthink

Groupthink

Groupthink

Team feels “invulnerable” – “Nothing can happen to us…we are too good.”

“Rationalizing” unpleasant or uncomfortable data – “Members do not accept data that goes against what they already believe, or do not consider other options.

Belief in group morality – Members think the group is always right.

Stereotyping competitors as weak, evil, or stupid.

Applying pressure to conform

Self-censorship – Personal concerns are not mentioned.

Illusions of unanimity – Members think there is consensus without testing it.

Mind-guarding – Members “protect” the team from hearing other views or disturbing ideas.

Groupthink

Groupthink

Groupthink Failure

The meeting

How to AVOID Groupthink

We must:

Encourage every member to be critical and free to share views.

Do not seem to favour one option; leave meetings to allow discussion without you.

Create “sub teams” to work on the same problems then get them to share their solutions.

Let members talk about issues with people outside the team.

Invite outside experts to evaluate the members and the activities.

Create a “devil’s advocate” with a different person at each meeting.

Have a review meeting after consensus is reached.

Creativity in Team Decision-Making

Creativity is one of the benefits of creating teams. How do we achieve this creativity?

We want to create ideas.

1. No criticism is allowed (Nothing is stupid)

2. The wilder the idea the better.

3. Quantity is important. (Better chance of finding a good idea if there are a lot).

4.Building on other’s ideas is encouraged.

Brain Storming

Creativity in Team Decision-Making

This is a much more structured discussion.

Leaders ask members to work alone and come up with their own possible solutions.

These ideas are passed around with criticism or discussion.

Discussion happens once everyone has seen them all.

A written vote happens .

Nominal group technique

Success Factors in Teams

High-performance teams usually share the following:

A CLEAR and elevating goal.

A task-driven and results-oriented structure.

Competent and committed members who work hard.

A collaborative climate.

High standards of excellence.

External support and recognition,

Strong, principled leadership.

Team Leadership Challenges

Successful leaders Establish a clear vision of the future.

They aim to create change.

They want to unleash talent.

Teams are hard work but worth it. You have to create a climate where members know what to expect and what is expected.

“Hiring for raw talent is not enough. You have to build leaders…you should always work to replace yourself.