eee umtas acommittee: 9 Petree pares OVERVIEW : J Reena esting he ean ey Building successful teams Vocabulary J A Prefixes _| Reeutns The key to successful eam building | Language review Mo skilis Resolving conflict ] Case study 4 The new boss Think of at least two advantages and disadvantages of working in teams. For each category in the quiz below, tick the three statements that most apply to you. Then read the explanations on page 152. a) [consider what | say. b) L contribs discussions, 2) often coms wsnusval soli b) Ics important to |) Meetings have robe prepared for carols emotions out | bike surprises 2) Action ix more realistic. masking, | 6} Thate sinne wanting at imporcant chan ¢) People see m avoid confrontation, | meetings. reflect creative perso: 4) Lsomietimes tread on | d) Too mich time exn ers 4) 1 like prac people’ toes. be spent on fore Tsay anything. | solutions @) Understanding preparation 2) Dikcurrion giver me | 0) Vous should’ importont | 0} People may I'm energy and ideas, overlook details as being punctual perso: Pain Soa lee a 4) You shouldn't get lost | 1) Leare about other | 4) Lneed a deadline to ineetings: n desk people’ feeling. | get me going Work in groups and compare your answers. Then discuss these questions. 4 Hol sant are thinking styles in effective tearrwork? asim) 2 Do you think your group would make a good team, based on the results of the quiz? Explain why or why net. Los,8 Team building a. Listen co the nse part of an interview with Janet Greenfield, an Building American specialist in Human Resources. What are the three key points far effective team building that janet mentions? Use these headings to help you: Successful teams corporate culture, expectations and contributions. © (722 Listen to the second part of the interview. Work in pairs. Take notes on 3) Vinee Lombardi's ideas and b) how hie idee are applicd to business. @ Discussion: describe a team you have been in that was either a) successful, b) unsuccesful and say why. A lanet Greenfield @ Match the prefixes of the words 1-10 to their meanings. Prefixes Prefix Meaning of prefix 4 mismanage a) not b) do badly —¢) former 2 pro-European a) opposite —b) in favourof —¢) before 3 predict a) not enough b) against ——«) before 4 post-merger a) after b) toomuch —_¢) notenough 5 dishonest a) very ) former ©) not © extuss @) opposite —_b) former 9) atter 7 bilateral a) against. Bb) after ©) two 8 reconsider a) again b) former ©) after 9 inesponsible a) again b) not © against 10 hypercritical a) notenough b) very ©) opposite > Vocabulary file page 171 © Complete the text below using some of the words in Exercise A in the correct, torm, Our company went through a difficult period a few years ago, Bad decisions were taken which caused us to lose a lot of money. Because the company had been , the chief executive had to resign. Last year, we merged with a much larger company. vuring the .’ pefiod our tuture strategy was discussed. It was decided that we could consider hecaminga mare glchal organisation with & strong presence in Europe. Most of us Were wn _*, we liked the idea of expanding into Europe. indeed our. ~* had been strongly in favour of daing this. However the two new doard members were strongly against the idea but never said so pel. | Uf ths Was Very nessun stead, they behaved In an manner during meetings. For example, they would be raising stupid objections if someone came up with a good idea, Because the meetings were so unproductive, the Board of Directors got cold feet and asked US tO dan.nnomund the decision to expand inta Furone. @ Add prefixes to the words in the box to give their opposite meanings. Then use them to discuss the questions that follow. ive Uetisive ellie enthuslasile flexible focussed imaginative loval organised practical sociable stable talerant, 4 Who is the best or worst person you have ever worked with? Explain why. 2 What qualities could you contribute to a team? What qualities would the other members need to have to create an effective team?8 Team bu [otis The key to successful team building @ None of us is as smort os oll of us. Do you agres? In what situations is it tru or not true? Give examples. © Read the article and answer these questions. 4 What is the difference between the past and the present in terms of the key to success ina career? = What docs the writer say about competition in the first paragraph? 3 In the second paragraph what does the writer say you need to be a good team player? 4 What three points does the writer make about effective teams in the third naragranh? 5 According to the writer which of the following attitudes should team members have? a) We know exactly what we are trying to achieve 1) Lill eae! when necessary © People value my work 4) | speak when invited by the team leader. @) | am encouraged te be very critical of colleegues' opinions 6 Why docs the writer think thot cultural differences do not have o big influence on teams? 7 What is the difference between Thai and Western team members? @ Discuss the following statements. 2 Ateam always needs 2 leader. 2 Ateam should change its leader regularly. 3 Tension between team members makes a team more effective. 4 Teams neec people with similar personalities in orcer to succeed © compete tne issn eiters te following words. Whh oF Urese qualttes do you possess that would be useful when working in a team? 4 ptonc 6 t__ghn_ss 2 fts_ght 7st min 30 uy 8 U_pl_in ty 4 re nist 5 ont_t_on ohn sty © Answer these questions. 1 Do you have any other qualities which would be useful fora team? 2 What would you find difficult about working in a team? 3 |F you were a team leader, how would you get your teem members to co-operate?_ 8 Team building None of us is as smart as all of us By Howarp Cant ‘A good team player has the hey suecess. Being the smartest, being the brightest, being the hardest; all of these attnbuter that worlced co wall in busiess in years gone by, now will ‘not push you up the ladder quik Hw enn a tenn player yo ane und how well you share your knowledge with your colleagues is the allimportant factor in 16 growing vour career today. I'you ear build a company culture that does not worry about who _z0t the credit Rur sennething, think about wha ‘you could achievel To survive in the bis bad tough ‘working environment of today you dont need to have your own people canupeitig with eavh vl Itis the commercial ‘enemy’ against whom all ‘heir energy should be fcussed Tes not always easy to be a good ean member and compromise your ows views for the good of 29 the whole, but it works forthe betterment of the company. You have to heliew in the workings snd power ofthe team and recognise where your own strengths an contribution tit, You have to be honest, both with yourself and with yourream ‘members. You will have conflict within the tears saan ay lou. this iy corrolde! shen te eaa be a very healtay element foc both the team and the development ofthe business. Research into high- perfornsing teams shows that cach member cares, 26 for the development of is team mates. Tais appreciation of each other's learning and development is key to the success of a teu and the commitment of ezeh memiber to the other, Over 70% of a manager's time is spent in some 1 form oF group activi ings with others; relatively Lite time is spent in the supervising ot ssngie individuals er on one-to-one discussions, thus the need for team bailing Indeed, the suocess of individual managers 4 depencis on low well thal manager's ream or teams improve in quality and productivity om a continuous basis. I reality, gromp productivity is ‘more important than individ cask secomplishatent. The mos! effvetive teams are 45 able to solve complex problems more easily than flan in mn we ‘ene person ean, for many capable minds ate brought to bear on an issue, However, all teams must be managed well by a capuble facilitator who understands that every team is unique, dynamic and ever-changing, Moreover, teams have Denaviour patterns, just as miivicuals do and, gust ws chilcren develop into adults. teams have developmental steges, being more prxductive and ities wt wre ue that antic Itis also extremely desirable for team members to have tae following attnudes; “T know wha | hve t do and the team’s goals are clear’, Tam willing to share some responsibility for leadership’, I am an active participant, "I feel appreciated and eupported by othora', ‘Other team ‘members listen when | speak and I respect the ‘opmions of others’, ‘Communication is open, new ideas wre enenmraged and we are having fn ‘working together”, ‘Teams S000 develop a clear problem-solving amproach that ean be applied time and again us Jong as their leader intially ereates a enrnmen purpose and vision, pointing tne tear in the right direetion Czoss-cultaral issues ean assail and impact the ‘working of teams, but itis well to eoicstce thal, despite culture, most team members huve similar Dbjectives in life, Objectives that relate to to love and being well-accepted by ulhers. The clever team leader recognises and plays upon these similarities while moulding the euliural differences to benefit the team, For example, Thai team members place a greaier focus on personal rolationshins in evervthing they do while Westorn ream members are looking more for personal coiicyemicul, From Benjarone Magacine, Phill ia| 8 team butiding Ere Modal perfect ws + Ihe modal perieet is tormed using modal verb + have + past participle. ‘We might have won te contract + ‘Iwo uses of the modal perfect are: a) criticising or commenting on past actions. You should have told me the neetina wos cancelled. She got there very early. She needn't have allowed so mutch time to find tio 7 b) speculating about the past or present. He may have moved te another department. He must have finished now: @ Answer yes, no or not sure to each of the questions below. 4. You should have chosen her for the tear Was she chosen for the team? 2 He must have made over 30 changes to the project. IDid he make over 30 changes to the project? 3 They needn’t have spent so much time on the report. Did they spend too much time on the report? 4 They could hve prepured wetter if they't had more time. Did they prepare as well as they wanted to? 5 The tear would have been stronger without him. Was the team as sitong as it could be? 6 Sylvia may have arrived by now. Has Sylvia arrived yet? 7. Thomas should have reached Barcelona by nom. Has Thornas reached Barcelona? 8 They couldn't have cone enough research as the lounch was 2 failure, Did the team do enough research? © Which of these statements uses the modal perfect correctly? Suggest alternative modals for the incorrect statements. 2 It's too late to apply forthe job nuw. You must have applied last month, > Itwias clly ta leave your wallet in the hatel room. It would have been stolen. 3, The fire in our showroom last night could have destroyed all our merchandise, 4 He bought the land cheaply and sold it ata higher price to developers, so he eect have macle a lot of money. 5 Gerry wasn't at the meeting, He might have been celayed in traffic 6 You couldn't have seen Mr Lebeau at the conference because he was in Hong Kong at the time. 7 He looked exhausted when he arrived, He should have had a bad flight. 8 Ho was chariematic and decisive. We must have made him team leader. @ Rote play this sttuation tn pairs. Asales rep went on a three-day business trip. He/She: «+ stayed in a five-star hotel + hired a top-of-the-range car + phoned home from theirroom —* drank mast ofthe mini-bar * ordered breakfast in theirroom + had clothes dry-cleaned by the hotel. Atter the trip, the Finance Director thinks the rep's expenses are excessive and. refuses to pay them, The sales rep defends their actions. Use as many of the following structures as possible: should have | shouldn't have / could have | needn't have | + pest participle. 72]8 Team building | @ Read the suygestivns beluw about ways of dealing with conflict. Pur each of Resolving conflict them under one of the following headings: either Do or Don’t. 41 Delay taking action, iFpossible. 2 Get angry from time to time with difficult members. 3 Try lo see Une yioblen fori tie puilil UF view oF the Wear, 4 Be truthful ahout haw you cee the situation 5 Encourage open and frank discussion. 6 Try to ignore tensions within the team. 7 Bring potential conflict and disagreement into the open. @ Cive special attention to team members who are creating prubleiis. 9 Persist with ‘impossible people’ — you may win them aver. 410 Try to find ‘win-win’ solutions. © OC atisten ta the conversation hetwoen Karen, Head of Department, and Larissa. Which suggestions, listed above, does Karen use to deal with the conflict between Larissa and her colleague, Sophie? @ Read the transcript of the conversation on page 164. Underline the phrases he uses to deal with the conflict. Add them to the Useful language bux. Usetul language Expressing your feelings Showing sympathy My main concern 15. I know how you feel. ‘making suggestions dentitying the real problem One thing you coule do is. What’ really bothering you? Expressing satisfaction Resolving the conflict Yes, that would be very helaful How do you think we should deal with thst Expressing dissatisfaction I don't think that would do much Reviewing the situation 00d, let's meet next week and see how things are going, © Work in pairs. Role play the following situation, Use phrases from the Useful language box above to discuss the problems. ‘Ateam of six multinational staff is managing a number of apartment blocks in Nice, France. However, one of the team is unhappy. The employee is difficult to work with and uncooperative. Team leader turn to page 146. Team member turn to page 155.CASE STUDY 74) The new boss Background Business Equipment and Systems (BES), ced in Birmingham, Fagland, sells fe machines, data projectors and slim plasma screens. Eighteen months ago, its national Sales Manager, Vanessa Bryant, moved toa senior management position. Her replacement, Nigel Frascr, Has been tolut to increase tmnover by at least 10% and to create a high-performing sales team, However, since Nigel's appointment the team har not been working effectively and morale is low. Last year’s sales were over 20% below target. The sales team has.a mix of nationalities because BES intends to enter other European markets in the near future. Nigel Fraser is well aware that his sales team is iat working well wycthet. Before considering what action to take to improve its performance, hie made some notes on the team, Read about Nigel and thea read the notes on the sales team (on page 75). ©) 84 Listen to the meeting chaired by cel Fraser; What do you learn about he team’s problem: Additional problems in the sales team 1 When the sales staff miss rheir rargers ar when customers complain, the staff blame each other or other deparmments. No one lity for mistakes. takes respons 2 Members of the team do not help each other enough, for example by passing on information about customers, Some members dislike each other 3 Staff become aggressive when Nigel criticises them for poor performance. 4 Momale in the deparmment is pane Nigel felt happier in his previous job, and he has hiward people talking about the ‘good old days’ when Vanessa Bryant was running the department. NIGEL FRASER: A‘whiz kid’. Previously worked fora business equipment chain. Ambitious and creative with a direct, ‘no-nonsense’ approach. Task-oriented, he sees his main objective as meeting sales targets. Very disappointed with current sales performance, Believes the team needs to be controlled more tightly and is underperforming because of bad habits acquired under Vanessa Bryant. You are directors of BES. Work in groups of four. Choose a role card (see nages 146,149, 4150, 151). Director 1 leads the meetings. Read your role cards and prepare fora meeting ta resolve your company’s team building problems. Icentify al the problems which are affecting the performance of the sales team. Discuss how to improve the performance of the sales team. Work out an action plan tar the next six months. if there is more than one group of directors, compare your aetion ples| JOHN Fax machines 42 Personality: Calm, relaxed, raliable. A aoad influence on the team. Performance: Mintel lis scales targets five times last year Renkec sith in department (valu ot sales), CCompeition vary trang in the fax machine market Steady worker. Good /bad pointe: upperts Nigsl, good team player, Other: Very popular with everyone 8 Team building | The sales team | ELIANA Data projectors, | new products Aged 25 Personality: Very ambitious, hard-working, ersative Barfarmance: Fsrnllant Ranked second in department (valve of sales). Good points/bad points: Feals demlivated. Wants to move to plasma screens. Other: Some poople are omvious of hor success. Thay don’: accept her ideas. MARTIN Plasma screens Personality: Extrover, dominating, shanamatic Performance: Top sales parson last throe years (value of sales) Good points/bad peints: Popular with customors. Unpopular with some colleagues. Typical commas ‘anrvgan' Lusi’, Lave" fete’, Othe late for meetings or mekes excuses and doesn't come, 35 DENISE Fax uuchines Aged 35 Personality: Dynamic, moody, outspoken Performance: Excellent, Renked Tour, Usually mest har sales targers Good points/bad points: Geis on ‘wall ith John and Rober. Argues a lot with Markus in meetings. Becomos very aggressive. Other: Used to have 2 personal relationship with Markus. Personality: rencly, charming, volatle Performance: Nosds to improve. Rankod fith (value of sales) Good points/bad points: Talented salesman, but inconsistent. Works hard when he's in the moad, Popular with most colsaguee. Always makes hia final call cless to nome {not quad forthe company) ‘Other: Dislikes Denisa and shows it ANNA Fax machines Aged 26 Personality: Reliable, quiet, hard-working Performance: Missed her catoa tangoto three times aot year Ranked sovonth in the Gepesien valve of sale). Good points/bad points: Some good idews but colleges don fisen to her. Very helpful to her coleagues. ‘uiner: Martin anc Merkus ‘often “put her down’ in meetings ROBERT Data projectors, | new products Aged 46 Personailly: Strong, sociable, team player Performance: Very good. Ranked tied in the department (value of sales). Good points/bad points: Highly me ‘experienced saleaman. Enjoya moetinas, a lot of ideas, Other: Hates Martin. They often insult each other at meetings. Very unhappy with the atmesprere in the ‘cepartment. Is considering leaving the company. Writing Either: Write a leer to the Managing Director of BES outlining your solution co the problems, Or You are a sales manager. The behaviour of one of your salespeople is upsetting ce others in the team, Write a leucr warning them about their conduct and indicating where improvements should be made. Si Uriting filepage 198