Getting tired of working alone and kind of lonely? You have probably even decided to form a team and hold a meeting. That way you can see people, feel important, and eat donuts. Forming a team and holding a meeting is the practical alternative to work.
Yet, creating a team is not supposed to be the alternative to work, it’s supposed to be the advancement and application of work.
- When creating a team, it is a good idea to provide a full orientation concerning the team and the issues they will be resolving, as well as the problems they will be solving.
- This very first stage is often referred to as forming.
- Provide low-risk activities and discussions that give people a chance to get to know each other.
- Give people some time to get used to the setting.
- Talk in general terms about the problems the team will be addressing and also provide insight to definitions and appropriate evaluation criteria.
- Facilitate an informal discussion about the team’s resources and limitations. Ask members about their particular strengths and weaknesses in relation to the team’s future interactions and success.
This forming stage is also when you ask for volunteers to temporarily take on various roles such as: time keeper, scribe, creative thinker, critical thinker, flip chart recorder, minutes taker, or facilitator.
So, when forming a team, consider the issues that will need to be addressed, carefully select the participants that can meet those objectives, give the team a little time to get used to each others’ style, and ease them into the discussions. Relational success will provide outstanding results.
For more on Team Building, watch Kit’s presentation. And don’t forget to check back to Welchlin.com every Monday for a new video blog.