Team Planning State the Key

Team

Planning

State the key things that you learned about this skill. What did you uncover that you had not known regarding your strengths and preferences?

One of the most unexpected but effective principles of team leadership is the 'Canadian goose' principle, which is illustrated by the fact that the geese, when part of a team, often switch leaders, when the head goose becomes tired. In other words, although leadership is necessary to good team work, it does not mean that one person is always dominant, and leadership of a team may shift from the planning to the implementation phases of teambuilding, as different leaders assume control. Also, when members of the team are faltering, the other members should be there to be supportive and step in for the other member's momentary weakness, rather than use this as a time to usurp the other member's position. Thus fostering a sense of trust between members early on in a team is necessary to create an effective team (Whetten & Cameron 2007: 497).

State two or three aspects of the competency that is most important to your performance right now.

Conveying integrity through clear communication, conveying a sense of positive energy by fostering dialogue, and maintaining consistency by setting clear and measurable goals are all skills that are crucial to being a good team member and being a strong leader. (Whetten & Cameron 2007: 513)

Identify the specific behaviors in which you will engage to develop this skill. Specify the situation in which you will develop the skill including who else will be involved, and when and where behaviors will be performed.

Establishing clear goals whenever a team sets forth on a task is vital to being a good leader. Also, being candid about the obstacles as well as the rewards is a critical aspect of developing this skill of being able to convey one's integrity as a leader. Team goals should be specific, measurable, and timely, and the leader should be honest when the goals are difficult. But the leader must also be optimistic about success, and deliver upon the promised reward.

State how you will evaluate your effectiveness. What are the indicators of successful performance?

Improved rates of productivity and meeting benchmarks are the ultimate measure of team success. However, team performance can also be measured by the sense of mutual respect between team members, and the presence of healthy rather than destructive forms of conflict.

Part II: Implementation and Evaluation

1.

State the rationale for your selection of the competency. What is this the most important competency for your immediate self-development? Why?

To foster cooperation, there must be trust between team members. The team must trust that the leader is setting feasible goals, and the leader must trust the individual team members to achieve those goals. Trustworthiness and integrity, and being able to convey this sense of security to fellow team members on the part of the leader is critical, and it is not enough merely to be honest, one must convince others of one's honesty.

2. What were the results of your implementation? Were you successful? How do you know? What was the impact on others?

Although it is too soon to say that particular company goals are being met more quickly, there is a more genuine and open exchange of ideas between workers, which harbors for success. When people feel that the leader has integrity they are less worried about their ideas being stolen, or not receiving credit for their ideas. Greater teamwork also makes workers less possessive of their ideas.