Transcript Document

Team Dynamics, Team Building
& Conflict Resolution
Team Dynamics
Early Learning Teams
• Expect short attention spans, so plan 10-15 minutes per
activity.
• Warm up with improvisational activities, Instant Challenges or
brainstorming before you work on the Team Challenge.
• Have SHORT meetings!
• End each meeting with a silly activity.
Elementary Teams
• Plan your meeting as you would with an Early Learning team,
only a little longer.
• De-emphasize competition and emphasize FUN.
• Work on team-building and team identity with fun activities.
• Structure meetings tightly so you don’t waste time.
• Draw out the strengths of quieter kids and insist on everyone’s
involvement and mutual respect.
• Hold a dress rehearsal 2 weeks before tournament, and
celebrate afterward—reduce stress for all!
• Don’t let them see you sweat!
Middle School Teams
• Hormones + broken hearts = nut house!
• These students lack focus, above all, so keep your meetings
SHORT!
• Split into subgroups for specific tasks to keep conflicts to a
minimum.
• Team-building is a must—get away from the meeting place and
do something different!
• Kids should write their own behavior contract. Then YOU can
enforce it.
• Accept that your priorities are not their priorities.
• End meetings early if they’re unproductive.
High School Teams
• Their motto: “We Can Do It All Ourselves.”
• Solving the Challenge themselves is not the problem, but group
cohesiveness is—when to delegate and when to lead. You are
the team’s “watchdog.”
• Gently emphasize life skills: being on time, being prepared,
setting an agenda, setting deadlines, delegating their own
responsibilities.
• Time is a problem—don’t expect the same level of ability and
commitment from all members
• Above all, enjoy these kids, and let them fly!
Team Building
Recognize & Appreciate Diversity
• Up to 7 team members
• Close in age/grade-level
• Will have different
– Personalities
– Ideas
– Abilities and Skills
– Interests
– Learning Styles
The Individual Specialties Inventory
Identifies individual interests and specialties and allows the group
to find their overall strengths and interests.
Quality Teamwork
• Develops from:
– Shared Experiences
– Trust
– Mutual respect
– Time
• Requires effort – it will not happen overnight nor without work
from all team members and the Team Manager
Discuss what makes a great team
1. Members trust each other.
2. Goals are clear and determined by members.
3. Members feel as if they belong.
4. There is willingness to hear new ideas and suggestions.
5. Members identify with each other’s experiences.
More qualities of great teams
6. Conflict is recognized and discussed with the intent to resolve
it.
7. Members accept responsibility for group functions.
8. Communication between members is clear and direct.
9. Members use each other as a resource and as support.
10. Members define and understand ground rules.
KILLER Statements
1. We don’t have time for that now.
2. That’s a stupid idea. You know that’s impossible.
3. You’re really weird!
4. Are you crazy? Are you kidding me? Are you serious?
5. Only girls/boys do that!
6. Wow, he’s strange, really strange!
7. That stuff is for wimps.
Stages of Team Development
• Forming – coming together to form a team
• Storming – creating a “team” feeling
• Norming – accomplishing tasks
• Performing – self-directed progress
• Adjourning – recognizing and celebrating success
Team Development
• Teams often move back and forth between stages of
development
• Teams can get “stuck” in a stage and require an extra push to
proceed to the next stage
• Team-building activities can help to effectively create shared
experiences that move the team from one stage of development
to the next
Some Team Building Activities
• Tying the Knot
• Blind Polygon
• Helium Hula Hoop
• Back-to-Back Drawing
• Go!
• “Trust” activities
• And many more…
Conflict Resolution
Typical conflict situations
• Not trusting fellow group members
• Not doing what you say you’re going to do
• Making someone feel they don’t belong
• Not respecting another person’s strengths or weaknesses
• Wanting to be in charge all the time
• Refusing to accept that not all ideas will be used or that your
idea is going to be changed by the group
• Blaming others when something goes wrong
• Refusing to accept group decisions
Creating a positive climate heads off conflict
• Help each other be right, not wrong.
• Look for ways to make new ideas work, not reasons why they
won’t work.
• Help each other achieve and take pride in each other’s progress
and work.
• Try to maintain a positive mental attitude, no matter what the
circumstances.
• Do everything with enthusiasm—it is contagious.
• Have FUN!
Key Phrases to Encourage Cooperation
• You are a T.E.A.M.: Together Everyone Accomplishes More!
• There is no “I” in team.
• It takes many types of skills and talents to get a well-rounded
solution.
• The team is developing the solution, not one or two people.
• There are no bad ideas, only good ones and better ones. How
can we improve this idea?
Conflict Resolution Techniques
• Mediation
• Reflective Listening
• Role Playing
• Role Reversals
• “Work Out” corner
Experienced TM suggestions for conflict
resolution
• Team rules
• Unfocused team member(s)
• Excessive talker
• Bickering and “put-downs”
• Lack of respect between 2 team members
• “Out of sorts” team member
• Difficult child
• Team is not getting anywhere
More conflict resolution tips from TMs
• Make sure meetings are not all business—take time for silliness
and snacks!
• Don’t expect equal commitment from all team members—
diversity makes a team strong.
• If not much is getting done, it’s time to do an IC, throw
snowballs or do a hamster dance.
• Pair up kids who work well together: divide and conquer.
• Younger kids need to meet for shorter periods, while older
teams can stay focused for hours
What have we learned today?
• Key to avoiding squabbles is TEAM BUILDING, but conflict is
normal.
• There are great conflict resolution techniques you can use to
minimize, deflect or resolve conflict.
• Encourage your team to discuss the characteristics of good
teamwork.
Activity:
Conflict Resolution
Role Play