Communication in the WorkplaceChapter 2.2

Teams

Essential Question• How are teamwork and leadership related?

Teams in the Workplace• Team

– Group of two or more people who work together to achieve a ____________________ goal– Can be under one roof or around the world– “Team” and “group” are ____________________

Teams in the Workplace (continued)• Teams can be formal or informal

– A ____________________ team comes together for a specific purpose and has an appointed leader– An informal team is usually made up of volunteers and may be considered a social group

• Teams can be functional or cross-functional– A functional team is brought together for a ____________________ purpose– A cross-functional team, or task force, brings representatives from various factions together to solve a

specific ____________________Leadership

• Leadership – Process of ____________________ others or making things better– Traits include ____________________, competence, self-confidence, communication skills, problem-

solving skills, and dependability– Abilities include setting goals, following through on tasks, and being ____________________

• Leader– Someone who guides others to a ____________________– May be appointed or elected

Leadership (continued)• Three common leadership styles

– ____________________ shares decision making with the group– Autocratic maintains all of the power within a team – ____________________ is a hands-off approach

Leadership (continued)

Characteristics of Effective Team Members• Effective team members have

– ____________________ skills– Time-management skills

Characteristics of Effective Team Members (continued)• Interpersonal skills are skills that help people communicate and work well with each other

– Critical-thinking skills– ____________________ skills– Nonverbal skills– ____________________ skills– Collaboration skills, which include compromising, or giving up an individual idea so the group can come

to a solutionCharacteristics of Effective Team Members (continued)

• Time-management skills– Practice of organizing time and work assignments to increase personal ____________________– Personal information management (PIM) is a system that individuals use to acquire, maintain, retrieve,

and use informationGroup Dynamics

• Group dynamics– Interacting forces within a group

• Includes ____________________, behaviors, and personalities of team members• Individuals should ____________________ each other• Team size should be considered

– Group effectiveness should be analyzed ____________________• Informal evaluation, such as summarizing a viewpoint or giving an opinion• Formal evaluation, such as a ____________________

Group Dynamics (continued)• Group process

– How a team comes together to get things done– Tuckman’s group decision-making process

• ____________________ is when the group comes together and gets to know each other• Storming is when members express individual needs and opinions• ____________________ is when collaboration and cooperation develop, and the team begins

functioning as a cohesive group• ____________________ is when the team is productive and meets its goals

Group Dynamics (continued)• Member roles

– ____________________ are formed by individual members and their roles– Each member should assume the role to which he or she is best suited

Group Dynamics (continued)• Team Meetings

– ____________________ way teams come together in an organized fashion– Informal meetings held to casually discuss a topic– ____________________ meetings require an agenda and official leader

• Parliamentary procedure is a process for holding orderly and democratic meetings• Implementing Robert’s Rules of Order can help a formal meeting run smoothly

Group Dynamics (continued)

Group Dynamics (continued)• Group conflict

– ____________________ behavior is accepting what happens without trying to change it– Aggressive behavior is expressing individual needs with little interest in or respect for others’ needs– ____________________ behavior is expressing personal opinions while showing respect for others

Group Dynamics (continued)• Group conflict

– Conflict management is recognizing and resolving team disputes in a balanced and effective way– Conflict-resolution skills are those required to resolve a situation in which a disagreement could lead to

____________________ behavior• ____________________ is when individuals involved in a specific conflict come together to

discuss a compromise• ____________________ is the inclusion of a neutral person to help the conflicting parties

resolve their dispute and reach an agreementGroup Dynamics (continued)

Workplace Safety• ____________________ should be aware of workplace safety for themselves and others• Employers, schools, and other organizations are ____________________ for providing an environment that is

safe for everyone on the premises• Maintaining a safe workplace is the joint responsibility of the employer and employee

Workplace Safety (continued)• The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was established in 1970 to assure safe and healthful

working conditions• ____________________ suggests posting signs to decrease common workplace accidents

– Falling hazards– Lifting hazards– Material-storage hazards

Workplace Safety (continued)• To prevent workplace falls:

– Close drawers completely– Do not stand on a chair or box to reach– Secure cords, rugs, and mats– ____________________ safety signs

Workplace Safety (continued)• To prevent lifting injuries:

– Make ____________________ small trips rather than one trip with a heavy load– Use dollies or handcarts whenever possible– Lift with the legs, not with the back– Never carry an item that blocks vision– Obey safety signs

Workplace Safety (continued)• To prevent material-storage injuries:

– Do not stack anything on top of tall cabinets– Store ____________________ objects on lower shelves– Keep aisles and hallways clear– Obey safety signs

Workplace Safety (continued)• Emergencies

– Emergency procedures are a series of actions taken to minimize risks in the event of an emergency– The first line of defense is to stay ____________________

Section 2.2 Review1. Identify types of teams in the workplace.2. List three common leadership styles.3. List some examples of interpersonal skills needed for teams to be effective.4. Explain the importance of group dynamics on a team.5. Who is responsible for workplace safety?