working in teams tools to help you walk the walk

Working in Teams

Tools to help you Walk the Walk

Collaborative decision-making through team action

4 Tools:

• Flow charts

• Nominal group techniques

• Cause-effect Diagram (fishbone, Ishikawa)

• Walk - thru

Core Belief:

• Groups are more capable than individuals

3

If you want to go fast, go alone…

If you want to go far, go together

African proverb

How do we get them to Pull Together for Collective Success ?

…

TEAMS

In a Learning Organization…

• People feel they are doing something that matters• Everyone is growing• More intelligent together than apart• Continuous improvement in self awareness• No taboo topics• Trust• Freedom to explore• Team learning

Atul Gawande:

Cowboys and Pit Crews

Team work

The Wisdom of TeamsCreating the High performance organizationJon R Katzenbach & Douglas K. SmithCollins Business Essentials, 2005

New team paradigm:OLD

• Individual accountability

• Decision makers vs.. do-ers

• Managerial control

• Fair pay for fair work

NEW• Joint accountability,

mutual support (plus indiv accountability)

• All are decision makers and do-ers

• Buy in (engagement) to shape direction and learn

• Personal growth

Team basics• Common and measurable performance goal(s): primary

objective• Small numbers: practical• Require complementary skills• Common purpose• Common work approach• Mutual accountability• The leader does not determine performance• Most orgs have huge untapped team potential• High performing team have discipline/ a clear plan

Building a Team:

• Establish urgency and direction• Select members based on skills/ skill potential

(not personality)• Pay attention to first meetings and first actions• Set clear rules for behavior• Set clear performance tasks/goals• Spend time together• Use positive feedback and recognition/ reward

Team leadership

• Avoid solo decision making (including work assignments

• Avoid individual accountability• Urge team to maintain/ sharpen common

purpose• Inspire trust• Create opportunities for members• Remove barriers to team performance

So How do we Do This Team Stuff?

Use The Tools to

Walk the walk!

Flow Charts

•Step 1: Draw the first and last step of the process •Step 2: Fill in all the steps of the process •Step 3: Note any Flaws to the process: •Step 4: Note any Fixes for the Flaws you have defined.•Step 5: Use the flow chart along with other tools to consider next steps for improvement projects.

Nominal Group Technique

• Step 1: Silent Generation of ideas based on a strong question

• Step 2:Round Robin Report and Record• Step 3:Discussion for Clarification• Step 4: Voting

Cause-Effect Diagram

•Step 1:Define the problem in a center circle•Step2: draw a cause circle at each of the 4 compass headings.•Step 3: Ask the group to define at least these 4 causes and place them in the circles. Are there other primary causes?•Step 4:Explore the sub causes of the primary causes, and continue until all causes have been explored.

The result will be an inventory of granular root causes, some of which will be excellent targets for improvement.

The Walk - Thru1. Inform your staff. 2. Include 2 participants 3. Plan your roles / stay in roles4. Take notes5.  Focus on the emotional experience6.  Look for “Value Added” Is this step

needed?, Is this step the best that it can be?

7. Complete the entire process (pre steps, post steps)

8. Process the results with the team

Mat Roosa 315 435 3355, x4969 mroosa@ongov.net

Use the Tools!