This has been a week of teams, both my own and watching others in action.  Teamwork, group work takes practice and tools.  It’s also one thing we are never really taught.  Think back to when you were in school, you were often told break into groups and complete task “x”, but do you ever remember being taught how to work in that group?  I do not and even as a teacher, have been guilty of making the request without giving any guidelines or tips to make the request successful.  We value the group mind, yet have not thought to cultivate, support and train people to use it.   I think we have done the same in our governments, businesses, community and social teams.

We expect everyone to just “know” how to work together, to know what everyone else is doing and how you can support that.  Yet, as I picture it, in most large businesses,  the person at the top of the pyramid is often tasked to make decisions with no knowledge of what the other folks below are working on or their protocols.  This seems simple, but it happens all the time, a decision is made at the top that absolutely crushes the work that has been being accomplished lower in the pecking order.  If we listen to what our politicians say they want for our country, it’s primarily the same goals, yet there is no effective teamwork happening to reach those goals, because everyone has their own side desires, influences etc.  In school & community projects, it is much the same situation.

So, for anyone working in a group, here’s what I propose.

At your next meeting. do not assume you are all on the same page just because you have chosen to “show up”.  Ask every attendee to answer the following questions together in stages before you begin any of the “work”:

Stage 1-

Why are you here?

What do you hope to accomplish or gain by your participation in this group?

What does accomplishing that look like to you?

Stage 2-

After hearing the goals/strategies of the other participants, are their any personal beliefs or outside pressures that might effect/interfere with your full participation in reaching the group’s goals?

Is there anything the group can do to help balance or ease those things, so that we can all move forward on the same path?

Stage 3-

After hearing the responses of all team members do you feel you can be a contributing, beneficial member of this team? Saying, “No”, is absolutely ok.

This may not solve all of the problems, but at least you are starting on the same page and you have established an atmosphere of mutual respect and listening.   You have shown that you care about and would like to honor every participant as an individual.

From there establish some basic rules using these great tips and let the work begin…