Building Strong Building Strong TeamsTeams

Prepared by Prepared by

Dr David PackerDr David Packer

Defining TeamworkDefining Teamwork

Joint action by a group of people, in Joint action by a group of people, in which individual interests are which individual interests are subordinated to group unity and subordinated to group unity and efficiencyefficiency

Coordinated effort, as of an athletic Coordinated effort, as of an athletic teamteam

Webster’s DictionaryWebster’s Dictionary

This means…This means…

Joint action – teamWORK Joint action – teamWORK Group of people – TEAMwork Group of people – TEAMwork Individual interests put asideIndividual interests put aside Group unity – commitment to a Group unity – commitment to a

common purpose is essentialcommon purpose is essential Group efficiency – unity in action, Group efficiency – unity in action,

following a common planfollowing a common plan

Biblical PerspectiveBiblical Perspective

Illustrations: Farm, House, BodyIllustrations: Farm, House, Body Danger of Pride: James 3:13-18Danger of Pride: James 3:13-18 Servanthood: Mark 10:42-45, John Servanthood: Mark 10:42-45, John

12:24-2612:24-26 Respect to Leadership: Hebrews Respect to Leadership: Hebrews

13:17; 1 Thess 5:1213:17; 1 Thess 5:12 Examples: Timothy, Epaphroditus, Examples: Timothy, Epaphroditus,

EpaprasEpapras

Why do teams fail?Why do teams fail?

Many reasons, too many to list them allMany reasons, too many to list them all Personal agendas become more important Personal agendas become more important

than team effortthan team effort Insecurities and self-protected-ness create Insecurities and self-protected-ness create

defensive posturing by team membersdefensive posturing by team members Lack of a compelling vision by team Lack of a compelling vision by team

members that all can agree is more members that all can agree is more important than their own agendasimportant than their own agendas

Failure to communicate Failure to communicate Many, many more reasonsMany, many more reasons

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”

By Patrick Lencioni

Lack of TRUST INVULNERABILITY

Absence of TrustAbsence of Trust

An unwillingness to be vulnerable An unwillingness to be vulnerable within the group, fear of rejection by within the group, fear of rejection by others. others.

““Team members not willing to be Team members not willing to be open about mistakes and open about mistakes and weaknesses make it impossible to weaknesses make it impossible to build a foundation for trust.”build a foundation for trust.”

Five levels of Five levels of CommunicationCommunication

Minimal – idioms, reports, little elseMinimal – idioms, reports, little else Reporter talk – saying what Reporter talk – saying what

happenedhappened Sharing Ideas – vulnerable stepSharing Ideas – vulnerable step Sharing Emotions – more vulnerableSharing Emotions – more vulnerable Trust and Openness EstablishedTrust and Openness Established

Trusting Team MembersTrusting Team Members

Admit to weaknesses and mistakesAdmit to weaknesses and mistakes Ask for helpAsk for help Accept questions and input about Accept questions and input about

their areas of responsibilitytheir areas of responsibility Give one another the benefit of the Give one another the benefit of the

doubtdoubt Take risks in offering feedback and Take risks in offering feedback and

assistanceassistance

Trusting team members …Trusting team members …

Appreciate and tap into one Appreciate and tap into one another’s skills and experiencesanother’s skills and experiences

Focus time and energy on important Focus time and energy on important issues, not politicsissues, not politics

Offer and accept apologies without Offer and accept apologies without hesitationhesitation

Look forward to meetings and other Look forward to meetings and other opportunities to work as a groupopportunities to work as a group

Describe…Describe…

Your family growing upYour family growing up Your unique challenges of childhoodYour unique challenges of childhood Your favorite hobbiesYour favorite hobbies Your first jobYour first job Your worst jobYour worst job

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”

By Patrick Lencioni

Lack of TRUST INVULNERABILITY

Fear of CONFLICT

Artificial Harmony

Fear of ConflictFear of Conflict

Teams that lack trust in one another Teams that lack trust in one another do not engage in healthy and robust do not engage in healthy and robust discussion of ideasdiscussion of ideas

Instead they avoid issues and speak Instead they avoid issues and speak with guarded commentswith guarded comments

Issue

Rela

tionsh

ip1

10

1 10

withdraw

yield

win

resolve

Teams with Healthy ConflictTeams with Healthy Conflict

Have lively, interesting meetingsHave lively, interesting meetings Extract and exploit the ideas of all Extract and exploit the ideas of all

team membersteam members Solve real problems quicklySolve real problems quickly Minimize politicsMinimize politics Put critical topics on table for Put critical topics on table for

discussiondiscussion

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”

By Patrick Lencioni

Lack of TRUST INVULNERABILITY

Fear of CONFLICT

Artificial Harmony

Lack of COMMITMENT

Ambiguity

Lack of CommitmentLack of Commitment

The result of not being able to openly The result of not being able to openly discuss ideas is that there is rarely discuss ideas is that there is rarely true “buy-in” into purposes and plans true “buy-in” into purposes and plans by team membersby team members

Reasonable human beings do not Reasonable human beings do not need to always get their way, but need to always get their way, but they do want to be heard on certain they do want to be heard on certain issues.issues.

Two Dangers to AvoidTwo Dangers to Avoid

Going with the consensus of the Going with the consensus of the strong leaders instead of mining out strong leaders instead of mining out disagreementsdisagreements

Waiting until the perfect moment for Waiting until the perfect moment for the perfect decisionthe perfect decision

““A good plan today is better than a A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”perfect plan tomorrow.”

Healthy teams unite around the Healthy teams unite around the decision even if later it is proven to be decision even if later it is proven to be wrongwrong

Teams that commitTeams that commit

Create clarity around direction and Create clarity around direction and prioritiespriorities

Align the entire team around common Align the entire team around common objectivesobjectives

Develop an ability to learn from Develop an ability to learn from mistakesmistakes

Take advantage of opportunities and Take advantage of opportunities and move forward without hesitationmove forward without hesitation

Change direction without hesitation or Change direction without hesitation or guiltguilt

Establish a difference Establish a difference between…between…

Low-risk issues that find ready Low-risk issues that find ready agreementagreement

Medium-risk issues: agree to issue Medium-risk issues: agree to issue but delay actionbut delay action

High-risk issues: postpone for more High-risk issues: postpone for more discussion and studydiscussion and study

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”

By Patrick Lencioni

Lack of TRUST INVULNERABILITY

Fear of CONFLICT

Artificial Harmony

Lack of COMMITMENT

Ambiguity

Avoidance of ACCOUNTABILITY

Low Standards

Teams that hold one another Teams that hold one another accountable…accountable…

Encourage poor performers to improveEncourage poor performers to improve Identify potential problems quicklyIdentify potential problems quickly Establish respect among team Establish respect among team

members who are held to the same members who are held to the same high standardshigh standards

Avoid excessive bureaucracy around Avoid excessive bureaucracy around performance management and performance management and corrective actioncorrective action

IdeasIdeas

Ambiguity is the enemy of Ambiguity is the enemy of accountabilityaccountability

Clearly publish exactly what the Clearly publish exactly what the team needs to do to succeedteam needs to do to succeed

And what every member needs to do And what every member needs to do to succeedto succeed

Clearly publish a set of behavior Clearly publish a set of behavior standardsstandards

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”

By Patrick Lencioni

Lack of TRUST INVULNERABILITY

Fear of CONFLICT

Artificial Harmony

Lack of COMMITMENT

Ambiguity

Avoidance of ACCOUNTABILITY

Low Standards

Inattention to RESULTS Status and Ego

Dangers that compete with Dangers that compete with resultsresults

Limited idea of team status – very Limited idea of team status – very common among ministry groups: the common among ministry groups: the idea that just being a team member idea that just being a team member of a certain ministry is all that is of a certain ministry is all that is requiredrequired

Individual Status – my personal Individual Status – my personal advancement is more important than advancement is more important than the team’s goals the team’s goals

Teams that focus on collective Teams that focus on collective resultsresults

Retain achievement-oriented Retain achievement-oriented membersmembers

Minimize disruptive individualismMinimize disruptive individualism Enjoy success and suffer failure Enjoy success and suffer failure

acutelyacutely Benefit true team playersBenefit true team players Avoid distractionsAvoid distractions

RESULTS

ACCOUNTABILITY

COMMITMENT

CONFLICT

TRUST Vulnerability

Genuine harmony

Clarity

High standards