Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Tips for Team Effectiveness

Two tips can be used to help teams be more effective. First, ground rules should be established so all team members are on the same page; consistency among team members is crucial for a team to work together effectively (Freed, 2012). Second, team members should contribute like they are playing charades; everybody needs to keep contributing and speaking up to create new ideas (Harper).
            Ground rules should be established in order to create consistency. Every team member should be on the same page; otherwise, expectations may be skewed or responsibilities may be delegated inefficiently. Having ground rules will avoid any surprises that may occur during a project (Harper). Delegating tasks to team members can be a part of establishing ground rules. Tasks should be delegated to a single person, rather than a “we’ll get it done” approach (Freed, 2012). Giving the responsibility to one person holds him or her accountable.
            Everybody should contribute like he or she is playing charades because it allows ideas to flow. The more people talk, the more ideas that are in circulation. When people say something, a thought is usually evoked in somebody else’s mind. This illustrates the concept that ideas bounce off of other ideas. In order for this to be effective, everyone must speak up, speak often, and speak freely (Harper).
            Teams are only as effective as the principles they are founded upon. In order for team members to be productive, they need to establish ground rules and have open communication. Ground rules will allow every team member to have the same focus and method of delivery. Open communication allows collaboration among every team member. Team collaboration encourages thoughts and ideas to be shared. Teams can be effective if these tips are utilized and enforced.

REFERENCES

Freed, E. (2012, November 13). What makes good collaboration? 10 real-world tips. 
The Social Intranet Blog. Retrieved from
http://www.thoughtfarmer.com/blog/good-collaboration-10-tips/
Harper, S. (n.d.). Ten tips for successful collaboration. Retrieved from


No comments:

Post a Comment