AF_AG01_ Recruitment and professional developmentUnit 2: Working in a team.

Today companies value positively the ability to work in teams. The Human Resources Department is a good example of how teamwork can be of benefit.

The objective of this unit is to show students the importance of teamwork have for the companies. One of the skills most sought by businesses today is the ability of its employees work in groups. Not everybody can work in a group and each member of the group has a different role inside the group. In this unit we are going to study the different roles that we can find in a team . Finally, we will study the most important member in a team: the leader. The students will learn the different types of leaders and how important this relationship is with the other members of the group.

To sum up, It would be useful for the employers to know what kind of team they want to build for the companies and which roles they should hire if they want a successful team. On the other hand, the employees should recognize what are their most suitable roles in a team thus they can highlight their strengths and minimized their weakness. Finally, It is very important, for the employer, to recognize a good leader in a selection process because their characteristics may be the key to the development of the team.

This unit is divides into two parts:

Part 1: Teamwork

Part 2: The roles in teams.

Part 1: Teamwork

First of all you have to learn some vocabulary related to teamwork. Please, click on the following link where you can practice the vocabulary that you will need in the following presentation and the activities in part 1. Please click on this link. You will find a Quizlet. Take your time to do all the activities proposed. .

Teamwork vocabulary

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This part of the unit gives an overview of the teams and why they are important. To do this we propose the students watch a Prezi presentation made by Paleerat Boonchum, Troy Ho, Waifoo Liew. The presentation tries to answer the following questions:

1. Why is teamwork important?2. Which are the characteristics of effective teamwork?3. Which are stages of teamwork growth?4. Can we find a real life examples?

Teamwork presentation

Activities1) When you have finished to watch the Prezi presentation in pairs, try to answer the four initial questions. Then share them with the rest of the class..

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Do you still have doubts about the importance of working in teamwork? Don't worry, we are going to read an article where the importance of teamwork is decribed.

2) Now you know more vocabulary so you are ready to read the following article: " How to describe the importance of teamwork" by Kermit Burley, Demand Media. But, first of all, you should choose the most suitable headline for each paragraph.

Headlines

A Teamwork Makes the Job Easier

BHow to Describe the Importance of Teamworkby Kermit Burley, Demand Media

C Teamwork Multiplies Success

D Teamwork Maximizes Strengths and Reduces Weaknesses

E Teamwork Makes Work Fun

Paragraphs

1 "Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach, defined teamwork as "Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." There are many definitions of teamwork offered by sports figures, generals and company leaders. All of them agreeing on one thing; teamwork is extremely important for the success of a company."

2Teamwork has often been described as one plus one equals three. On teams, people can work together and accomplish much more than they could by themselves. This concept of synergy is how many sports teams achieve success. "

3"The industrial revolution began the era of mass production and also the division of tasks in the workforce. Employees now specialize in areas and contribute to the team through the work they produce. By specializing in areas like merchandising or accounting, they become more expert at their tasks and make your team more effective as a result."

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4In team sports, team members work together in order to win. Individual weaknesses can be minimized through the efforts of the team. In football, for example, a weaker lineman receives help from a team mate to help block a competing player and the pass is completed successfully. In your company, you place your people where their strengths can be best used. People with the best human relations skills are placed in human resources and your best advertisers work in merchandising. Weaknesses can be reduced when your people concentrate on their areas of strength.

5Work is more fun when you are a part of a team. You can build on other people's ideas and share in completing the assignment together. You also have another pair of eyes to look at the work, which further reduces errors and mistakes. Studies have also shown that laughter and fun reduce stress, which can also increase effectiveness on the job. Teams that enjoy working together can accomplish great things for your company and great teams achieve their goals again and again.

3) Underline in the article all words that you have learnt in Quizlet and write a sentence with each one.

4) Finally, answer the following questions:

1. Have you ever worked in a team? For example in class or at work.

2. What was your experience ?

3. Do you agree with the article ? Why ?

4. You can add more advantages of teamwork ?

5. Make a list of the main disadvantages of team work .

6. Do you think that companies really value teamwork ? Why ?

Share your answers with the rest of the group.

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Part 2: The roles in teamsYou have just studied the importance of teamwork. Now you are going to understand which are the roles that we can find in a team.

In a team each member of the group has a specific role.

The role is a characteristic pattern of behavior regarding the way in which each team member interacts with others to achieve a goal.

Group roles are not necessarily static; people may adopt different roles at different times during the group’s life-cycle. 

Professor Meredith Belbin made the following classification of roles in a team in the seventies:

1. Sharper . The Shaper is a dynamic, outgoing member of the team; they are often argumentative, provocative and impatient. Their contribution is in the early stages.

2. Implementer. Implementers get things done. They have the ability of transforming discussions and ideas into practical activities. They may have problems with group members more creative and not so formal.

3. Completer-Finisher. The Completer-Finisher is a task-orientated member of the group and as their name implies they like to complete tasks.

4. Coordinator-Chairperson . The Coordinator is often a calm, positive and charismatic member of the team.

5. Team worker. The Team Worker helps by giving support and encouragement to the other members of the team.

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6. Resource Investigator. The Resource Investigator is a strong communicator, good at negotiating with people outside the team and gathering external information and resources.

7. Plant. The Plant is an intellectual and individualistic member of the team.

8. Monitor evaluator. The Monitor Evaluator is unlikely to get aroused in group discussions – they tend to be clever and unemotional, often detected from other members of the team.

9. Specialist. The Specialist has expert knowledge in some area that is vital to the success of the group.Source: www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/group-roles.htm

Activities

1) You have just read the definition of Belbin's role now you have to complete the following crossword where you should find the most appropriate definition for each Belbin's role.

Down Across

1. This type of role is needed to provide a logical, make impartial judgements where required and to weigh up the team's options in a dispassionate way

3. They are more effectively used at the end of the tasks to polish and scrutinise the work for errors.

2. This one provide the necessary drive to ensure that the team kept moving and did not lose focus or momentum.

5. It was only after the initial research had been completed that this Team Role emerged. The value of an individual with in-depth knowledge of a key area is recognised as yet another essential team contribution.

4. They tend to focus on team goals 7. They tend to be highly creative and good at solving problems in unconventional ways.

6. They are needed to plan a practical. workable, strategy and carry out as efficiency as possible

8. When the team is at risk of becoming isolated and inwardly-focused, they provide inside knowledge on the opposition and make sure that the team’s idea would carry to the world outside the team.

9. They use to help the team to gel, using the versatility to identify the work required and complete it on behalf on the team.

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2) Are you ready for identify roles in practical examples? In the following sentences you have to chose one of them.

a) I like people to reach an agreement.b) Can I bring original ideas.c) It is easy to work with me.d) I received complaints for being too analytical.e) My goal is my job . I do not mind being unpopular .f) I am a practical person and provide practical solutions .g) Take the initiative if the work does not progressh) My training can improve the team.i) We implement the ideas of others.j) I tend to influence other members of the team.k) I can explain many ideas

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l) I try to reach deadlines

Do you know what kind of Belbin's role you play? Do you want to know ?Please, click on the following website and do the test to find out what kind of role you have.

Belbin's roles

Do you agree with the results? Why? Write a short paragraph.The type of role obtained with the test explains what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses. How can you enhance the strengths and minimize the weaknesses in the process of recruitment? Write a short paragraph.

The leaderFinally, If you want to have a successful team you need a good leader.

The leader is a person with the ability to influence a group of people and make them work with enthusiasm to achieve goals.

We have to distinguish between leadership and team management.

Management team gives orders , directs , organizes work and takes decisions with the authority that has been given by the hierarchy of the organization, while the leader guides the group towards a common target.

It is very important the relationship between the leader and the others members of the group. This relationship often depends on how the leader is.

Professor Lewin in 1939 distinguished between three styles of leadership after carrying out an experiment with children. He found only three types of leaders and he concluded that the most effective leader was the democratic .

Read the following definitions of each kind of leaders.

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a) Autocratic: The Autocratic leader takes full control of the group and dictates what will happen .

b) Democratic.: The Democratic leader runs the group as a democracy, giving choice whenever possible and appropriate.

c) Laissez-faire: The Laissez-Faire leader is very laid back in their approach. Laissez-Faire leaders give complete freedom to individual and group decisions and rarely make suggestions or attempt to direct the group in any particular way.

Source: www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/group-roles.html

Activities

3) The following article: " What is 'Leadership' and what makes a good leader? by Search inside yourself, Leadership institute. You can read the most important characteristics of a good leadership.

However, imagine the writer forgot to write the appropriate word for each description. You should match the word given with the most suitable definition and after answer the following questions: 1. Do you agree with the characteristics that are described in the article? Why?2. From your point of view, what is the most important characteristic and why?3. Do you know anybody who has all or some of this characteristics? Do you think he/she

is a good leader?4. Do you want to add any characteristic? Which one?

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What is "Leadership" and What Makes a Good Leader?

"There are many definitions of leadership. The Collins English dictionary defines leadership as “the leader(s) of a party or group.” Yet true leadership is much more than that. A leader can be the CEO of an organization, or a first year employee who leads his or her team to success behind the scenes. A leader might lead through official authority and power, yet just as often great leaders lead through inspiration, persuasion and personal connections.So what is leadership? One great definition is:

“Leadership is the art of leading others to deliberately create a resultthat wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”

It’s not just the creation of results that makes good leadership. Good leaders are able to deliberately create challenging results by enlisting the help of others. They can single headedly turn failing companies into Fortune 500 organizations. They can change company cultures. Good leadership is an essential key to corporate success.The Characteristics of a Good LeaderWhat makes a good leader? Here are some of their most important characteristics:

Vision. Self-Awareness.

Ability to Motivate

Self-Direction. Social Awareness

You have an intimate knowledge of your inner emotional state. You know your strengths and your weaknesses. You know when you’re working in flow and you know when you’re over worked. You know yourself, including your capabilities and your limitations, which allows you to push yourself to your maximum potential.

You’re able to direct yourself effectively and powerfully. You know how to get things done, how to organize tasks and how to avoid procrastination. You know how to generate energy for projects, to calm yourself when angered. You can make decisions quickly when necessary, but can also slow to consider all the options on the table.

You’re working towards a goal that’s greater than yourself. It could be something small, like the success of the team, or a larger vision like world peace. Working towards a vision is far more inspiring than working towards personal gain.

Leaders don’t lead by telling people what they have to do. Instead, leaders cause people to want to help them. A key part of this is cultivating your own desire to help others. When others sense that you want to help them, they in turn want to help you.

Understanding social networks and key influencers in that social network is another key part of leadership. Who in the organization has the most clout, both officially and unofficially? Who moves the hearts of the group?These are some of the most important characteristics of good leaders."

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4) Finally we are going to study a specific case of leader. Look at the video below where you can see Steve Jobs explains how the organization is in his company .

Steve Jobs video

1. How does Steve Jobs describe the organization of his company?

2. Why is the model so successful?

3. Do you believe that all type of companies can adapt this model?

4. What kind of leader was Steve Jobs?( Autocratic, democratic, lazier-faire)

5. How does he justify that the important is the team? Do you agree? Why?

6. In this case, do you think the leader was the key for the success of the company? Why?

SUMMARY

Having reached the end of the unit you should be able to:

- consider the importance of a good team for the companies.

-recognize the main roles that we can find in team and what kind of role you play inside it.

-identify the different types of leaders are and recognize a good leader in the selection process.

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TO KNOW MORE

In this Unit you have studied the importance of teamwork and how important is for the companies. If you want to know more about it please click on this link where you can read an examples of teamwork .

- http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-great-teamwork-12607.html- http://www.studentbeans.com/mag/en/news/21-examples-of-teamwork-will-make-you-smile

The second part of the unit is about the roles inside the teamwork. The unit describes the Belbin's role. If you want to know more about who Meredith Belbin is and what her studies are click on this link.

- www.belbin.com/

Finally ,the unit focuses on the leadership. There are a lot of examples of good leaders in the world. If you want to know who are the most important leaders click on this link. Perhaps you will be surprised.

-http://fortune.com/2014/03/20/fortune-ranks-the-worlds-50-greatest-leaders/

In this Unit you have studied the importance of teamwork and how important is for the companies. If you want to know more about it please click on this link where you can read some e In this Unit you have studied the importance of teamwork and how important is for the companies. If you want to know more about it please click on this link where you can read some examples of teamwork .

- http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-great-teamwork-12607.html- http://www.studentbeans.com/mag/en/news/21-examples-of-teamwork-will-make-you-smile

what - www.belbin.com/

Finally ,the unit focus on the leadership. There are a lot of examples of good leaders in the world. If you want to know who are the most important leaders click on this link and maybe you will be surprised

-http://fortune.com/2014/03/20/fortune-ranks-the-worlds-50-greatest-leaders/

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Department an overview

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