The Role of

Human Resources in

Building Effective Teams

Seonaid Charlesworth, Ph.D. BC HRMA Conference

April 15, 2014

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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

Teams are Here to Stay

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“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.”

What’s Wrong with Team Building?

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http://changeyourteam.com/whats-wrong-with-teambuilding/

The Knightsbridge Approach

Building the Team’s Capacity

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© Weiss, Molinaro & Davey (2007) – Leadership Solutions (Jossey-Bass)

Future External

Environment

Future Strategic

Response

Future Team

Requirements

Current Team

Requirements

Current External

Environment

Current Strategic

Response

The mandate and value add of the Team is a function of the business environment and the overall Organizational strategy.

3 Dimensions of Team Effectiveness

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Enhancing the effectiveness of the team requires not only individual change, but

also attention to the formal process and implicit culture of the team.

© Weiss, Molinaro & Davey (2007) – Leadership Solutions (Jossey-Bass)

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Realize the Full Value of Teams

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Personal growth

Improved alignment & dynamic

Diagnosing Common Team Dysfunctions

Alig

nm

en

t

Dynamic

Vital Team

Toxic Team

Unrealized Potential

Failure Path #1 Unsustainable

Failure Path #2 Unproductive

Toxic or Vital?

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What are the Characteristics?

Team

Ali

gn

men

t

Team Dynamic

Vital Team

Toxic Team

Unsustainable Team

Unproductive Team

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Common Team Ailments with Liane Davey

Show Video

Where is Your Team Today? (Diagnostic)

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Team

Ali

gn

men

t

Team Dynamic

Vital Team

Toxic Team

Unsustainable Team

Unproductive Team

Anatomy of a Healthy Team

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A Healthy Team – Team Alignment

A high degree of team alignment and dynamic leads to a productive team that is

able to deliver on its mandate.

Team

Ali

gn

men

t

Vital Team

Toxic Team

Unrealized Potential

Failure Path #1 Unsustainable

Failure Path #2 Unproductive

Team Dynamic

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A Healthy Team – Team Dynamic

A high degree of team alignment and dynamic leads to a vital team.

Team

Ali

gn

men

t

Vital Team

Toxic Team

Unrealized Potential

Failure Path #1 Unsustainable

Failure Path #2 Unproductive

Team Dynamic

Building Alignment and Dynamic

for a More Effective Team

4 Steps to a More Effective Team

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1. Understand the

purpose of the team

Define the team’s value proposition and how it fits into the overall business plan of the 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

Unique Value & Mandate

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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

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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.

Two Truths

In business, the reality is there is often two truths (or more!)

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My objectives

Their objectives

Common Ground

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5 Ground Rules Exhibited by Healthy

Teams

1. Start with a positive assumption

2. Add your full value

3. Amplify other voices

4. Know when to say no

5. Keep conflict healthy

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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

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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

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5 Ground Rules Exhibited by Healthy

Teams

1. Start with a positive assumption

2. Add your full value

3. Amplify other voices

4. Know when to say no

5. Keep conflict healthy

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Embrace Productive Conflict

Show Video

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Team Effectiveness Action Plan

Vital Teams Process

The Vital Teams™ Process…

Module 1:

Anatomy of a

Healthy Team Align team activities and outcomes to your business strategy

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

Prework:

Individual

Interviews

The Vital TeamsTM process is designed to anchor the team mandate before

delving into individual behaviour and then the organizational and cultural

context.

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Ability to

handle

difficult

situations

Improved & Sustained

Performance Sustainable

tools and

processes

Team

enforces new

behaviour

The Result

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Resources

Please leave your business card for a copy of the each of these eBooks:

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http://changeyourteam.com/

http://thecommunityofleaders.com/