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Knowledge, Effectiveness and Teamwork Seminar

Cheryl W. RyanDirector, Board ServicesOhio School Boards AssociationFriday, October 14, 2016

Teamwork occurs when people with diverse abilities, strengths and perspectives come

together to achieve a common goal.

TEAMWORK: Over talked about and Under utilized

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Think about a time…

Now how about a time…

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Coming together is a beginning…

Staying together is progress…

Working together is success.

-- Henry Ford

Why is teamwork so important?• Today’s professional environment

• Your every day life

• The human factor

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What makes really effective teams different?

• Each team member really cares about a successful conclusion to the project or task.

What makes really effective teams different?

• No individual team member cares more about his or her own success than of the success of the group or its mission.

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What makes really effective teams different?

• Individual team members find satisfaction in contributing their unique skills – those that give the team or project a competitive advantage.

What makes really effective teams different?

• Individual team members don’t quantify which pieces of the process or which skills are the most critical. They understand that each step is the most important at that time and each skill important to the final result.

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What makes really effective teams different?

• The team and its members insist on establishing ground rules for its operation, including agreeing on the goals and objectives, timetable for work, resource allocation, meeting logistics and strategies for conflict resolution.

What makes really effective teams different?

• Team members take the time, and consider the process, to evaluate progress and results. They care about learning what could be done better next time; what might have made the work easier; what lessons can apply to the next project or team experience.

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When it comes to conflict…

• Are dissenting or minority viewpoints seen as valuable parts of the conversation?

• Is the group willing to work challenges through to resolution or will its default be to ignore them?

• Can team members criticize or challenge an idea without it being seen as a criticism or challenge of a team member?

When it comes to conflict…

• At the outset, did the team discuss the likely or possible challenges or resistance it might encounter?

• Has agreement occurred – as a group –about what the conflict really is?

• Has each individual been asked for her or his “bottom line” in regard to any potential solution?

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The Debate, Discussion & Dialogue Continuum

Debate: The focus is on winning and/or defending a point of viewDiscussion. The focus is on persuading, prioritizing or decidingDialogue. The focus is on exploring, brainstorming and understanding different ideas and perspectives.

DEBATE DISCUSSION DIALOGUE

Does every successful team need a leader?

• This may depend on the project – its length, complexity, etc.

• Does the project need a leader or does each key piece of the project need one?

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Does every successful team need a leader?

• Most projects will benefit from having a leader, a point person, an organizer or similar.

• Leadership on the best teams isn’t about the credit and this is usually one of the last things a real leader considers.

Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

The Original Story

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Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

The Original StoryMoral: Never give up.

Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

Story #2

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Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

Story #2

Morals:Never Give Up

AndComplacency is a Killer

Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

Story #3

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Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

Story #3

Moral:Exploit your own Competency

AndIf you can’t Change the Problem,

Change the Route

Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

Story #4

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Reimagining the tale of theTortoise and the Hare

Story #4

Moral: Pooling resources and working

together will always maximize success

A few final thoughts…

• Are the right people present?• Do we agree on what success looks like?• Do we agree on process?• Do we agree on managing conflict openly

and fairly?• At work’s end, did we talk about what

would make our work better or easier next time?

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• Individual vs group satisfaction• Shared experience• Impact

“Success in life is not about the triumph, but about the struggle”….Baron Pierre DeCoubertin

• Boy, that was easy!

• That sure wasn’t easy, but we found a way to get it done!