CWT #1 - Team Building

Question 1

What aspect allows teams to move through the team building stages

Answer 1

Accepting risk!!

Question 2

Characteristics of Effective Teams

Answer 2

• Empowerment (capabilities & power)
• Teamwork (practices, participation, interdependence)
• Purpose (clarity, commitment)

Question 3

5 stages of team growth

Answer 3

1. Polite
2. Why we’re here
3. Bid for power
4. Constructive
5. Esprit

Question 4

Polite (stage of team growth)

Answer 4

a. size people up, cliques begin forming, conversation = polite, judgments take place, strong need for group approval, little or no group identity
b. goals = get acquainted, avoid controversy
c. leader’s actions = introductions, help people get acquainted, encourage participation, allow some socialization
d. production = very low/none

Question 5

Why we’re here (stage of team growth)

Answer 5

a. set goals and objectives, cliques build power, hidden agendas arise, decline in need for group approval, low group identity
b. goals = build structure, determine goals
c. leader’s actions → provide structure to enable team to get down to business, agenda items, goals or milestones for task, outline specific responsibilities, encourage commitment to task, and low group identity
d. productivity = very low

Question 6

Bid for power (stage of team growth)

Answer 6

a. competition increases, struggle for leadership positions, conflicting views arise, cliques take on more importance, wildest range of interaction
b. goals = decide how to operate, decide who’s in control
c. leader’s actions → Continue to provide structure, Reemphasize goals and milestones, Reemphasize roles/responsibilities, Encourage group collaboration, Avoid creating internal competition
d. productivity = satisfactory

Question 7

Constructive (stage of team growth)

Answer 7

a. Attitudes change to focus on group collaboration, Progress toward goals made, Open questioning and active listening, Conflict is group problem rather than win-lose battles, All members contribute, Team spirit begins to build, High creativity
b. Goals → accomplish task at hand through group effort
c. Leader’s Action → Encourage group collaboration, Solicit ideas to keep creativity high, Guard against slipping back into Bid for Power
d. Productivity = high

Question 8

Esprit (stage of team growth)

Answer 8

a. Strong group identity, High morale, Intense loyalty, All members approve of each other, No cliques, Closed membership—no new members welcome, Constructive/productive actions
b. Goals → accomplish task at hand through group effort, maintain group identity, enhance group reputation
c. Leader’s Action → encourage group collab, foster a healthy team spirit

Question 9

Characteristics of effective teams

Answer 9

“PET”
Purpose > clarity, commitment

Empowerment > capabilities, power

Teamwork > practices, participation, interdependence

Question 10

Polite > why we’re here

-movement between stages

Answer 10

polite → why we’re here: relinquish comfort & accept risk (prompted by any group member)

Question 11

Why we’re here

-movement between stages

Answer 11

why we’re here → bid for power: commit to team purpose & accept risk

Question 12

Bid for power

-movement between stages

Answer 12

bid for power → constructive: cease defending views & accept risk (ability to listen)

Question 13

Constructive

-movement between stages

Answer 13

constructive → esprit: trust self & group members & accept risk (unanimous agreement)