Transcript Teamwork : What`s in it for me?

Teamwork : What’s in it for me?
Lisa Harris
Staff Operations Manager,
Weapons Engineering Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Overview
What is teamwork, really?
Communication demo
Setting Goals
7 Essential Skills for Teamwork
Teamwork
“Work done by several associates with
each doing a part but all subordinating
personal prominence to the efficiency of
the whole”
» http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teamwork
 Basically, collaboration, cooperation,
coordination
More on Teamwork
“There is no I in teamwork”
 BUT… there is a “me” – each student
• Must have an interest in the team
• Must have a desire to the direction and completion
of the task
• Must understand “what is in it for me”
Communication IS essential
DEMO : Simple Dress
Establishing Clear Goals
When you set goals for your team, you are
giving them a purpose.
 Encourage “group think”
 Reminder: this is not a team of 1
When the goals are clear, people know
exactly what they need to do.
 It gives them focus to work on.
More Goal Setting
Clear goal setting helps you to distribute
work in the right manner.
 If requirements are clear, it is easier to assess
which members of your team can handle
which jobs effectively.
Identify long term objectives and set short
term goals
 Constant communication will help
7 Essential Skills for Teamwork
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2.
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6.
7.
Listening
Questioning
Persuading
Respecting
Helping
Sharing
Participating
Listening
Each person needs to listen to each
other’s ideas
Encourage feedback and dialog
New ideas or concepts can evolve from
building off of one another
Questioning
Encourage students to interact, discuss
and poise opposing ideas to questions
Challenge them to think “outside the box”
One person’s confusion or
misunderstanding can stonewall a solution
Persuading
Encourage students to exchange, defend
and rethink ideas
Each will need to evaluate what they are
willing to sacrifice and what they are not
willing to give up
 “Pick your battle”
Respecting
Each person deserves to be treated with
respect, as well as their ideas
Students need to encourage and support
each other
 Especially if they are falling behind schedule
Helping
Encourage students to share
 Offer ideas and share ideas with one another
 Help in areas where there is confusion or
“stalling”
 Don’t wait until it is too late!
Participating
Hard work and dedication are essential
 Identify areas where each person has
strengths and interest
 Encourage students to prepare a plan with
milestones to make sure things are not falling
off the radar
Summary
Teaming is not hard, but it does take effort!
Encourage dialog and continual
communication
Offer your support and guidance
 Don’t be too busy to help!