The Role of
Human Resources in
Building Effective Teams
Seonaid Charlesworth, Ph.D.
BC HRMA Conference
April 15, 2014
Today’s Agenda
Building Healthy Teams
•
•
•
•
Team Effectiveness Vs. Team Building
Diagnosing Common Team Dysfunctions
Anatomy of a Healthy Team
Building Alignment and Dynamic - Steps to a more Effective
Team
2
Teams are Here to Stay
“In a recent Knightsbridge survey of 50
major organizations across different
sectors, 89% of respondents said that
teams will be even more important in
the future than they are today.”
3
What’s Wrong with Team Building?
http://changeyourteam.com/whats-wrong-with-teambuilding/
5
The Knightsbridge Approach
Building the Team’s Capacity
Current
Current
External
Environment
Strategic
Response
Future
Future
External
Environment
Strategic
Response
Current
Team
Requirements
Future
Team
Requirements
© Weiss, Molinaro & Davey (2007) – Leadership Solutions (Jossey-Bass)
The mandate and value add of the Team is a function of the business
environment and the overall Organizational strategy.
7
3 Dimensions of Team Effectiveness
© Weiss, Molinaro & Davey (2007) – Leadership Solutions (Jossey-Bass)
Enhancing the effectiveness of the team requires not only individual change, but
also attention to the formal process and implicit culture of the team.
8
Realize the Full Value of Teams
Personal
growth
Improved
alignment
& dynamic
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
9
Diagnosing Common Team Dysfunctions
Toxic or Vital?
Alignment
Failure Path #1
Unsustainable
Vital Team
Unrealized
Potential
Failure Path #2
Unproductive
Toxic Team
Dynamic
11
What are the Characteristics?
Team Alignment
Unsustainable
Team
Toxic Team
Vital Team
Unproductive
Team
Team Dynamic
12
Common Team Ailments
with Liane Davey
Show Video
13
Where is Your Team Today? (Diagnostic)
Team Alignment
Unsustainable
Team
Toxic Team
Vital Team
Unproductive
Team
Team Dynamic
14
Anatomy of a Healthy Team
A Healthy Team – Team Alignment
Team Alignment
Failure Path #1
Unsustainable
Vital Team
Unrealized
Potential
Failure Path #2
Unproductive
Toxic Team
Team Dynamic
A high degree of team alignment and dynamic leads to a productive team that is
able to deliver on its mandate.
16
A Healthy Team – Team Dynamic
Team Alignment
Failure Path #1
Unsustainable
Vital Team
Unrealized
Potential
Failure Path #2
Unproductive
Toxic Team
Team Dynamic
A high degree of team alignment and dynamic leads to a vital team.
17
Building Alignment and Dynamic
for a More Effective Team
4 Steps to a More Effective Team
Define the team’s value proposition and how
Understand the
1.
it fits into the overall business plan of the
purpose of the team
organization
2.
Understand default
styles
Drill deeper into understanding the actual
team members
3.
Address
Opportunities and
Weaknesses
Guide the team through productively venting
their frustrations
4.
Develop Sustaining
Mechanisms
Help sustain the new behaviours so the
team members don’t regress and fall back
into old habits
19
Unique Value & Mandate
Unique Value and Creating the Mandate
• Why do we exist as a team?
• What is the organization counting on us to
do?
• What are the few key things we need to own
and drive together?
• What is the relationship between this team
and the extended team?
Warning!
Avoid listing departmental or individual accountabilities
Focus on why the team exists
20
Why the Mandate Matters
An example from a Portfolio Analysis Team at an investment company:
By integrating diverse information about the global
economy, market trends, and asset performance,
we provide guidance on buy/sell decisions to
support our investment departments in optimizing
the long-term performance of our funds.
21
Two Truths
In business, the reality is there is often two truths (or more!)
My
objectives
Common
Ground
Their
objectives
22
5 Ground Rules Exhibited by Healthy
Teams
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Start with a positive assumption
Add your full value
Amplify other voices
Know when to say no
Keep conflict healthy
23
From: I.M. Outtagetcha
To: Seonaid Charlesworth
Subject: Your presentation
I reviewed the draft you sent. I caught a couple of errors and have some ideas
about how to improve the presentation. I’ll come to your office at 3:00 to
discuss.
Regards,
I.M. Outtagetcha
25
From: I.M. Hereforyou
To: Seonaid Charlesworth
Subject: Your presentation
I reviewed the draft you sent. I caught a couple of errors and have some ideas
about how to improve the presentation. I’ll come to your office at 3:00 to
discuss.
Regards,
I.M. Hereforyou
26
5 Ground Rules Exhibited by Healthy
Teams
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Start with a positive assumption
Add your full value
Amplify other voices
Know when to say no
Keep conflict healthy
27
Embrace Productive Conflict
Show Video
28
Team Effectiveness Action Plan
29
Vital Teams Process
The Vital Teams™ Process…
Module 1:
Anatomy of a
Healthy Team
Align team
activities and
outcomes to your
business strategy
Prework:
Individual
Interviews
Module 2:
Side Effects
Create insights
about individual
styles that
improve team
dynamics
Module 3:
Common Team
Dysfunctions
Develop better
ways of working
as a team
Module 4:
Back in Action
Sustain
effective team
practices long
after the
facilitator is
gone
Prework:
Birkman™
Assessment and
1:1 Debrief
The Vital TeamsTM process is designed to anchor the team mandate before
delving into individual behaviour and then the organizational and cultural
context.
31
The Result
Team
enforces new
behaviour
Improved &
Sustained
Performance
Sustainable
tools and
processes
Ability to
handle
difficult
situations
32
Resources
Please leave your business card for a copy of the each of these eBooks:
33
http://changeyourteam.com/
http://thecommunityofleaders.com/
34