Leadership Lesson 13

7/31/2019 Leadership Lesson 13

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Modern Whig Party of America

Whig Academy

Leadership Course

Lesson 13:

Building Cohesive Teams


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MWP Academy Leadership Course Lesson 13: Building Cohesive Teams

Table of Contents

Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 3

In this Lesson................................................................................................................................. 3

Building Cohesive Teams: Definition of Team ........................................................................... 3Building Cohesive Teams: Benefits of a Team .......................................................................... 3

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: Team Leader ABC's ............................................. 4

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: A is for Attitude .................................................... 4

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: Personal Attitude Assessment Intro ................. 4

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: Personal Attitude Assessment .......................... 4

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: Personal Attitude Assessment Results ............ 4

How Do You Get from a Group to a Team: B is for Be Knowledgeable about the Stages ofTeam Development........................................................................................................................ 5

Stages of Team Development: Overview .................................................................................... 5Stages of Team Development: Forming...................................................................................... 5

Stages of Team Development: Forming Stage Facilitation Checklist...................................... 6

Stages of Team Development: Storming .................................................................................... 6

Stages of Team Development: Storming Stage Facilitation Checklist .................................... 6

Stages of Team Development: Norming ..................................................................................... 7

Stages of Team Development: Norming Stage Facilitation Checklist ..................................... 7

Stages of Team Development: Performing................................................................................. 7

Stages of Team Development: Performing Stage Facilitation Checklist................................. 7

Stages of Team Development: Transforming/Adjourning ........................................................ 8

Stages of Team Development: Transforming/Adjourning Facilitation Checklist ................... 8

Stages of Team Development: Summary.................................................................................... 8

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: C is for Commitment via Vision and Trust ........ 9

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: C is for Commitment via Open Communication 9

What Does Effective Team Look Like? ....................................................................................... 9

Review Exercises ........................................................................................................................ 10

Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 11

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Introduction

Welcome to the lesson Building Cohesive Teams.

This lesson discusses ways in which leaders can build strong and cohesive teams by capitalizing

on a positive attitude, understanding their role in the stages of team development, buildingcommitment within the team, and being aware of the characteristics of an effective team.

The purpose of this lesson is to discuss the importance of team building and the relationshipbetween being a leader and building a cohesive team.

In this Lesson

This lesson explains the definition and benefits of a team, team leader ABCs, and stages of teamdevelopment.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Assess your own personal attitude as an effective team builder.

Describe the leaders role during the stages of team development and in developing teamcommitment.

Describe how to evaluate team effectiveness.

Building Cohesive Teams: Definition of Team

From the beginning of time, people have come together for various reasons and formed groups.

Sometimes they are successful and sometimes not. Take a moment to think about some of thevarious groups that you belong to now or have belonged in the past. Be sure to include family,work or volunteer activities, Units, recreational, and neighborhood, to name a few.

Click on the dictionary for the definition of a team.

Team: A group of individuals who share work activities and the responsibility for specificoutcomes; Team members need the work of other members to achieve shared goals.

Building Cohesive Teams: Benefits of a Team

There are many benefits to building a cohesive team. Click on each image to learn more aboutthese benefits.

Collaboration sharing of information, ideas, and resources.

Support getting multiple ideas and options from one other.

Commitment to getting the task done people working together.

Open Communications members voicing opinions and listening to one another.

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MWP Academy Leadership Course Lesson 13 : Building Cohesive Teams

Synergy the team working as one unit.

Take a minute to reflect upon the groups in which you have been a member. Were they groupsor teams?

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: Team Leader ABC's

Now lets identify the team leader ABCs. It takes hard work and awareness on behalf of theleader to help transform a group into a well-functioning, successful team. Sometimes you havethe time to assist the transformation, but oftentimes you will not. It will be during these times thatyou will need to be an effective team leader.

Hopefully, these ABCs for leaders may serve as a quick reminder and aid you with this transition.

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: A is for AttitudeLet's talk about "A"A is for Attitude.

As the leader of any group you set the tone. You may need to build a team from a group that isjust coming together for the first time; or you may be the new person joining a particular group.Either way, there is a certain attitude and a mindset that you should possess and be aware of inorder to be successful.

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: Personal AttitudeAssessment Intro

The personal assessment section of this course is web based and interactive and is not yet readyfor use. We apologize for any inconvenience..

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How Do You Get from a Group to a Team: B is for BeKnowledgeable about the Stages of Team Development

Now let's talk about "B"B is for Be Knowledgeable.

Use your personal assessment information to help build your teams. It is imperative that as aleader, you have the right attitude towards successful team building.

You must also Be Knowledgeable about the stages that a group must go through in order todevelop into a team. A team develops in stages over time. It goes through certain predictablestages, progressing from a collection of individuals to a cohesive unit working together for acommon cause.

Stages of Team Development: Overview

Next, lets identify the stages of team development.

Be aware that groups move through various developmental stages as their members interact withone another. Sometimes groups will recycle and go back through a previous stage that was notfully developed or completed. Many teams progress through these stages with little conflict, while

others take a great deal of time, get stuck in a stage or disband.

Lets discuss these stages and see where you, as a leader, can assist the team in itsdevelopment.

Stages of Team Development: Forming

The first stage a team goes through is called the Forming Stage. This occurs when the groupfirst meets or comes together. Characteristics of the forming stage involve members that are:

Wondering who the key people are.

Trying to figure out what this group is about, how they fit into the group, what the groupwants from them, and what they will get out of their involvement.

Depending on the leader for structure and direction.

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Minimal work will be accomplished in the forming stage. Use the checklist on the next page tohelp facilitate the forming stage.

Stages of Team Development: Forming Stage Facilitation

ChecklistChecklist to facilitate team development in the forming stage.

Allow time for team members to get acquainted.

Establish ground rules and norms.

Share strengths and challenges.

Develop a common vision and mission.

Creategroup identity.

Discuss values and develop goals.

Stages of Team Development: Storming

The second stage is Storming. Some experts call this "essential tension" or growing painsand believe the resulting conflict is good in that group members' concerns, expectations, andneeds are identified. Characteristics of the storming stage involve members that are:

Becoming testy, blameful or overzealous.

Relying on their personal experience and resisting collaborating with other teammembers.

Jockeying for position within the group.

Depending on the leader for continued direction but also conflict resolution and coaching.

Use the checklist on the next page to help facilitate the storming stage.

Stages of Team Development: Storming Stage FacilitationChecklist

Checklist to facilitate team development in the storming stage.

Promote open communication.

Allowconflict.Focus on short term goals.

Encourage positive attitudes.

Provide empowering leadership.

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MWP Academy Leadership Course Lesson 13 : Building Cohesive Teams

Stages of Team Development: Norming

The third stage is Norming. Norming does take commitment by the leader and cannot berushed or you may find yourself back in the Storming stage. In the norming stage, moderatelevels of work are accomplished. Characteristics of the norming stage involve members that are:

Listening to one another and trying out how they best work with one another.

Taking on leadership roles, accepting their own roles within the team, and acceptingteam ground rules.

Needingasupportive style of leadership.

Stages of Team Development: Norming Stage FacilitationChecklist

The checklist to learn how to facilitate team development in the norming stage.

Maintain open communication.

Increase focus on team goals.

Celebrate team achievements.

Encourage shared leadership.

Stages of Team Development: Performing

The fourth stage is Performing. A high level of work is accomplished in the performing stage.Characteristics of the performing stage involve members that are:

Supporting one another and communicating openly.

Accepting each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Making things happen and taking on more responsibilities.

Performing as a team.

Needingadelegating style of leadership.

Stages of Team Development: Performing Stage FacilitationChecklist

Use the checklist on the next page to help facilitate the performing stage.

Encourage innovation.

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Conduct periodic assessments.

Continue to acknowledge and celebrate success.

Share team leadership roles.

Stages of Team Development: Transforming/Adjourning

Many times because of member turn over, new tastes, new goals, or even new leadership theteam will revert back to earlier stages. Roles will need to be redefined and new goals set.

Teams that are characterized by ongoing change will experience frequent transformation. Suchteams display flexibility and are capable of change. In some cases, these teams are constantlyreinventing themselves. The Transformation stage may also be so radical that it throws thegroup back into the forming stage. At this point they go through the whole team developmentprocess again or adjourn.

In some instances, teams have a specified purpose, and once they have accomplished this, theyend their existence. Characteristics of the transformation/adjourning stage involve members thatare:

Transitioning due to changes in leadership, task, new group members.

Stagnating due to lack of motivation, enthusiasm.

Asking how the group should interpret and respond to change.

Questioning communications, how changing roles will influence current team members,and how these implications will be handled.

Reverting to the characteristics described in the forming stage.

Minimal work is accomplished in the transforming stage. Use the checklist on the next page tohelp facilitate the transforming/adjourning stage.

Stages of Team Development: Transforming/AdjourningFacilitation Checklist

The checklist to learn how to facilitate team development in thetransforming/adjourning stage.

Promote and maintain open communications.

Assess your stage in the development process.

Use the skills needed to work through this stage.

Encourageinvolvement.

Stages of Team Development: Summary

You can see that this process never ends and that as a leader, you are constantly trying to buildand maintain that team. As a leader, it is critical to understand what leadership style to use toguide the team members through their development.

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Refer to the Stages to Team Development checklist often as you are leading your teams.

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: C is for Commitment

via Vision and TrustNow let's talk about "C"C is for Commitment.

So how do you build commitment? The ability to build team commitment is learned. You can beeffective by using common sense and a few fundamental principles.

Vision

Excite the team with large, desired outcomes. Your vision should include challenges, appeals topersonal pride and an opportunity to make a difference.

Trust

Build trust and provide confidence in your team leadership and vision. When leadership commitsto a clear vision and a genuine plan to share risks and rewards, trust is established.

How Do You Get From a Group to a Team: C is for Commitmentvia Open Communication

An additional fundamental principle includes open communication.

Open Communication

Establish a collective strategy for reaching the vision. Move your team towards a consensus onhow to reach this vision. When you have buy-in from the team on the vision, you will havecommitment. Building commitment will take time, energy, and effort. It is a key ingredient tobuilding a productive, successful, and cohesive team.

Okay, you now have the right attitude, you have assisted your team through the developmentalstages, and the team are committed. Now what? How will you know if this team will be effective?

What Does Effective Team Look Like?

As a leader of a team, you should be able to evaluate how your team is doing and whether theyare struggling or working together to accomplish the task at hand.

Take a moment and review the attached Characteristics of an Effective Team Checklist. Thesepointers provide an idea of what should be occurring on your team so it can be effective andsuccessful. Use these pointers as an evaluative tool to see if the team you are leading is on trackand functioning at the level you need it to be. If not, reassess and see where you may be able to

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take some corrective action either in the leadership style you may be using or where you canassist the team to help them get back on track.

Review Exercises

1. What does a team building attitude include?

a. Encouragement for members to work together and support one another.

b. A storming and norming mentality.

c. Understanding that conflict is normal within groups, and work to resolve quickly.

d. Knowing that each leader has their own one style of leadership.

2. How many stages of team development are there?

a. Three.

b. Four.

c. Five.

d. Six.

3. Which team development stage involves team members that are listening to one another,taking on leadership roles, accepting team ground rules, and needing a supportive styleof leadership?

a. Forming.

b. Storming.

c. Norming.

d. Performing.

e. Transforming/adjourning.

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4. What is the key ingredient in building a productive, successful, and cohesive team?

a. Opencommunication.

b. Encouragement.

c. Conflictresolution.

d. Involvement.

5. Which of the following are characteristics of an effective team?

a. Free flowing information.

b. Decisions are made by consensus.

c. Leader is never questioned.

d. Conflict is regarded as natural and helpful.

Summary

Congratulations! This completes the lesson Building Cohesive Teams. In this lesson, youlearned the definition and benefits of a team, team leader ABCs, and stages of teamdevelopment.

You should now be able to:

Assess your own personal attitude as an effective team builder.

Describe the leaders role during the stages of team development and in developing teamcommitment.

Describe how to evaluate team effectiveness.

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campaign or candidacy.

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Leadership Lesson 13