Chapter 6Chapter 6Chapter 6Chapter 6Working and Writing in

Teams

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Interpersonal Communication

Crucial for teamwork and building trust Includes multiple skills

Listening Conflict resolution Nonverbal

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Teams Interactions: Three Dimensions

Informational—focus on content: problem, data, solutions

Procedural messages—focus on methods, processes

Interpersonal—focus on people, cooperation, team loyalty

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Life Stages of Team Interactions

Formation

Coordination

Formalization

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Positive Roles in Teams

Task GoalsEvaluating

Seeking information,

opinions

Giving information,

opinions

Summ

arizi

ng

Co

ord

inatin

g

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Positive Actions in Teams

Encouraging participation

Relieving tensions Checking feelings Solving interpersonal

problems Listening actively

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Negative Actions in Teams

Blocking Dominating Clowning Overspeaking Withdrawing

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Team Leadership

Informational—create, assess ideas and text

Interpersonal—check feelings, resolve conflict, monitor process

Procedural—set agenda, keep members informed, check on assignments

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Decision-Making: Problem Solving

1. Understand what team has to deliver

2. Identify problem

3. Gather information

4. Establish criteria

5. Generate alternative solutions

6. Measure alternatives against criteria

7. Choose best solution

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Successful Student Teams

Assign specific tasks, set clear deadlines, schedule frequent meetings

Listen carefully to each other Establish proportionate work loads Develop inclusive decision-making style Listen to criticism and improve

performance Deal directly with conflicts

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Peer Pressure and Groupthink

Groupthink—tendency for teams to value agreement so highly they punish dissent

Correctives to groupthink Search for alternatives Test assumptions Protect rights of individuals to disagree

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Diverse Teams

Differences affect how people behave in teams, what they expect from teams Gender Class Race Ethnicity Age

ReligionSexual orientationPhysical ability

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Conflict Resolution

1. Make sure people involved actually disagree

2. Ensure that everyone has correct information

3. Discover needs each person is trying to meet

4. Search for alternatives

5. Repair negative feelings

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Effective Meeting Guidelines

Make purpose explicit Distribute an agenda Allow time for discussion Use omnibus motion Pay attention to people and process

as well as tasks

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