TeamBuilding Lesson Plan
Topic
TeamBuilding
Overview and Purpose
- This lesson is designed to improve team or group effectiveness
- This training will involve examination of feelings, perceptions and beliefs about the functioning of the team
- Development of plans to apply what was learned in training to the team’s performance in the work setting
Helps to recognize the working styles of different individuals and the differences among them. It helps co-workers to work together towards common goals. TeamBuilding can help people learn new ways to interact positively.
An effective corporate team building ensures more support to the company and project management efforts, better communication, faster and better conflict resolution, a sense of purpose and personal job satisfaction.
The organization relies heavily on teamwork, so team building training is always a training need. There is always room to improve the employee’s team skills. The trainees are members of a group they work with in the corporation. Members of the team need to work on how to approach each other with issues especially. They need to learn the best way to do that based on the different personalities of the team members.
Requirements
Class Time
Total time for team activity -- 45-60 minutes
Presentation to group – 60-90 minutes
Role Play-30-40 minutes
Video- 10-15 minutes
Materials
Instructor's station with computer and projector
Computer lab for online activities
Handouts for activities
Personality Types video
Team building activities and Games
Objectives
Upon completion of this training an employee will be able to:
- Explain the benefits of multiple perspectives and diverse skills in solving real world problems;
- Explain the benefits of teamwork as well as the problems of teamwork;
- Teach employees conflict resolution techniques;
- Teach employees to divide work among themselves;
- Teach employees the reasons to be responsible and constructive ways to hold each other accountable;
- Motivate employees to work collaboratively.
Background Material and Resources
Vocabulary:
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - a detailed test to measure psychological type developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers.
Myers-Briggs Four Dimensions of Personality Type:
Extraversion (E) -----|----- Introversion (I)
Sensing (S) -----|----- Intuition (N)
Thinking (T) -----|----- Feeling (F)
Judging (J) -----|----- Perceiving (P)
Yields 16 personality types (all the possible combinations of the four dimensions) - Extraverts -- focus their attention and energy on the world outside of themselves; need to experience world to understand it
- Introverts -- focus their attention and energy on the world inside of themselves; need to understand world before experiencing it
- Sensors -- concentrate on what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled and tasted; focus on what is real and concrete
- Intuitive -- interested in meanings, relationships, and possibilities based on facts; focus on implications and inferences
- Thinkers -- prefer decisions that make sense logically; make decisions by analyzing and weighing the evidence
- Feelers -- make decisions on how much they care or what they feel is right; view themselves as empathetic and compassionate
- Judgers -- seek to regulate and control life; like to have issues resolved
- Perceivers -- seek to understand life rather than controlling it; like to stay open to all kinds of possibilities
Conflict Resolution: People or teams try to deal with conflict in the following manner:
- Avoiding Conflict – you must avoid both the issues likely to lead to conflict and the people with whom you are likely to conflict with. Based on a belief that easier to avoid conflict than face it.
- Smooth the conflict – minimizing conflict so that group relationships aren’t strained. Belief that discussing conflicts damages relationships rather than strengthens them. Sacrifices personal opinions and goals out of fear of losing the relationship. Tactics include:
- Denying that there is a problem
- Smoothing over the issue or problem
- Changing the topic or focus
- Ignoring the feelings that you have about the issue or problem
- Forcing the conflict – attempts to overpower others and force them to accept your position. Personal opinions and goals are very important and relationships with others are less important. Competitive win-lose approach
- Tactics include:
- Attacking others’ ideas
- Using expertise, position or experience to overpower others
- Compromising – tries to get others to give up some of what they want in exchange for giving up some of what you want. Everyone gives up something and everyone gains something. Can be lose-lose strategy because no one achieves their goals. Underlying assumption: everyone should accept less than they want because that is the best that they can hope for. (Should be tried after problem solving hasn’t worked)
- Problem Solving – Win-win approach. Personal goals and group relationships are highly valued. Purpose to find a path forward that meets everyone’s goals and preserves group relationships.
Resources
Noe, Raymond. Employee Training and Development. McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York, NY, 2005. 3rd ed.
Activities/Procedures
- Participants complete one of the teambuilding activities such as “Non-verbal birthday line-up” or “team treasure hunt”
- Guided Discussion with PowerPoint slides and video to explain concepts and provide human interest stories as illustrative examples (teambuilding.ppt)
- Time permitting, participants take an online personality test such as the Keirsey Temperament Sorter at Discussion in the PowerPoint presentation following this test should focus on the different attitudes, perspectives and skills that individuals bring to a team environment.
- Participants role play representative conflict situations & Discuss (Coordinator role plays teacher intervention)
Teaching Strategies
Guide Discussion focusing on:
- Team life cycle with specific appropriate examples
- Elements of successful teams (relate to Project Development lesson plan);
- Definition of team problems and intervention strategies;
Participation in teambuilding exercises
Thought provoking questions (and answers)
What problems would you anticipate with employee teamwork in your company? (Discuss and post before giving “answers from other groups.”)
How can you recognize poor teamwork early?
How can you communicate effectively with someone that has a different personality?
Nurture collaboration among coworkers / □ Activities are designed to give participants the skills need to work together
□ Role playing activities will help participates develop the skills needed to deal with situations that arise while working in teams, such as conflict resolution
Structure and facilitate ongoing formal and informal discussion / □Team building activities will be selected to highlight the need for constructive communication between team members
Assessment/Evaluation Techniques
Objective Evaluation Method
Explain the benefits of multiple perspectives and diverse skills in solving real world problems / Ask them to discuss several real life examples
Explain the problems of teamwork and the inevitability of conflict / Discussion responses
Teach employees conflict resolution techniques / Role playing performance and subsequent discussion
Teach employees how to divide work among themselves / Personal Goal setting
Teach employees the reasons to be responsible and constructive ways to hold each other accountable / Daily/weekly team meetings
Evaluate and diagnose team performance separate from individual performance / Team Goal Setting
Motivate employees to work collaboratively / Overall Productivity
Extensions/Follow-Up
Visit the company and talk to employees that work in teams
Talk to employees and focus questions on gathering information about their personal work experience
Analysis of Lesson and Plan
After the lesson has been taught you may have suggestions or questions. This section provides a place to voice the questions, additions, and suggestions. Nothing will go here until reflection after the training. Then the suggestions and additions may be added to the lesson plan.