MM1950 Chapter 3 - Team Development

Question 1

List 5 growth stages of a Team.

OR

Explain the different growth stages of a team.

OR

What are the stages for a team to grow? Explain each stage briefly.

Answer 1

(If the question asks to 'list' them, then no need to explain)
Five Stages are:
1) Forming Stage
2) Storming Stage
3) Norming Stage 
4) Performing Stage
5) Adjourning and Mourning Stage 

Explanation:
1) Forming Stage: The team members discover the purpose of being a member of the team.

2) Storming Stage: The team members express their opinions, may experience conflict, and resist team formation.
3) Norming Stage: The members accept the team, their roles, and the other members.
4) Performing Stage: The team gathers to make decisions and solve problems.
5) Adjourning and Mourning Stage: The team either celebrates or learns/experiences a lesson if the goals remain unattained.

Some ‘Key Points’ for each Stage:
1) Forming Stage: ‘Am I a member of this team?’

2) Storming Stage: ‘Who controls this team?’
3) Norming Stage: ‘What are the rules of this team?’
4) Performing Stage: ‘How high can this team go?’
5) Adjourning and Mourning Stage: ‘Where do we go from here?’

Question 2

What makes a successful team?

OR

List the ways for a team to become successful.

OR

How can a team achieve success?

Answer 2

1) Clear Objectives
2) Balanced Roles
3) Effective Processes
4) Openness and Conflict
5) Mutual co-operation
6) Individual Development
7) Good Communication
8) Appropriate Leadership
9) Support and Trust
10) Sound inter-group Relations
11) Regular Review

Explanation:
1) Clear Objectives: Ensuring that every member has a clear understanding of the company’s objectives.

2) Balanced Roles: Ensuring that the roles for each member are equally distributed.
3) Effective Processes: Having effective communication. and good implementation for the decisions.
4) Openness and Conflict: Ensuring that the team members express themselves openly and honestly.
5) Mutual co-operation: Ensuring that there is acceptance of one another’s work in the team.
6) Individual Development: Ensuring that every member is given opportunities to develop new skills.
7) Good Communication: Ensuring that meetings are productive and held regularly to analyze the overall growth.
8) Appropriate Leadership: Ensuring that the team members trust the leader and his/her work/decisions.
9) Support and Trust: Ensuring that the members help and support each other by listening, offering ideas, and encouraging to participate.
10) Sound inter-group Relations: Providing opportunities to shadow members of another team, and vice versa.
11) Regular Review: Ensuring that the team regularly reviews its performance and goals and alters its practices in the light of the review.

For more information, visit:
https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/your-team/people-management-skills/teams/effectiveteam/developing

Question 3

List the principles of active listening.

OR

What are the ways to have an effective listening skill?

OR

How to become an active listener?

Answer 3

To become an Active/Effective Listener, practice and master the following:

1) Stop Talking
2) Prepare yourself to listen
3) Put the speaker at ease
4) Remove distractions
5) Empathise
6) Be patient
7) Avoid judgments
8) Listen to the tone
9) Listen for ideas, not just words
10) Wait and watch for non-verbal communication

Question 4

How to give constructive feedback to the employees/members?

OR

List the guidelines for giving constructive feedback.

OR

What are the guidelines for giving constructive feedback?

Answer 4

1) Give feedback in a positive and respectful way to encourage and help the person receiving the feedback.

2) Do not be harsh or judgmental
Give feedback at the correct time and place.

3) Communicate positive points about the personal strengths and what they did well, before suggesting areas to improve.
4) Describe specific examples and facts to explain what the person did or did not do.

5) Provide suggestions for improvement
Listen to the response and clarify if necessary.

6) Use positive non-verbal communication.

Question 5

List the guidelines for receiving constructive feedback.

OR

What are the guidelines for receiving constructive feedback?

Answer 5

1) Accept constructive feedback in the spirit that it was given – someone wants to help you to develop strength or skill.
2) Use active listening skills.
3) Do not become defensive or angry.
4) Accept the feedback openly and think about how you can use it.
5) Ask for clarification or examples if needed.
6) Thank the person who took the time to give you feedback.