4-MAT Book Review: Susan A. Wheelan
Knox Capre
Liberty University
APA Formatting
Abstract Creating Effective Teams: a Guide for Members and Leaders is a book by Wheelan (2013) designed to do as the title states; guiding members and leaders to create effective teams. Wheelan (2013) begins the book by highlighting the reasons that groups are important. Wheelan (2013) states that throughout history, “Groups have played a major role in both the survival of human beings and the development of human culture” (p. 1). The majority of the book is based on 4 stages that create a group of individuals into an effective team. The first stage is called dependency and inclusion. According to Wheelan (2013), the first stage of the group is
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The first goal of stage three is to solidify positive relationships between members. The second goal is to engage in more mature negotiations about group roles and organizational procedures. Once the three are stages are worked through the n the fourth stage, Work (Wheelan, 2013), can be accomplished. Wheelan (2013) identifies the fourth stage as a time of intense team productivity and effectiveness. This is the stage that is the result of creating the effective team. Once the four stages have been identified and understood, Wheelan (2013) goes on to elaborate on how a group leader can keep the team effective. Wheelan (2013) speaks of 10 keys to productivity (goals, roles, interdependence, leadership, communication and feedback, [discussion, decision making and planning], implementation and evaluation, norms and individual differences, structure, cooperation and conflict management). Wheelan (2013) also shares the ways that group members become effective team members (don’t blame others, support the leader, promote effective problem-solving, etc…) as well as how a leader can be an effective team leader (be direct and confident, involve members in leadership, adjust your leadership style to the group, etc…). Finally, Wheelan (2013) highlights effective organizational support for teams, which includes an organization support checklist. Concrete Response There really wasn’t a video roll that played in my head, but I can
At this stage, the group begins to realize the more positive points of individuals within the group, which promotes the development of trust and respect which begins to build group cohesion. The next stage is the performing stage, which is typical of high-performing teams that are able to function as a group and figure out various options to get the job done smoothly and effectively without supervision. The final stage is the adjourning phase, which is the final step in completing tasks and breaking up the team.
Wheelan (2013) identifies the four stages of team development and provides detailed explanation of how a group transforms itself from a stage one group of uncertainty into a successful, highly productive stage four team. This requires work and a thorough understanding of the many internal/external influences that can occur during each stage. A team member or leader who is well versed in these stages and who can evolve with each stage will be better equipped to deal with possible obstacles that can hinder group progress and implement practices to help the group successfully work through a
The features of effective team performance are set out in Brian Tuckman’s phases of team development theory, ‘Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing.’ This outlines the phases that a team will go through in order to become effective and reach maturity. At the ‘Forming’ stage of team development individual roles and responsibilities are unclear and each member of the team is concerned to avoid conflict with each other. From this point the team will go through the ‘Storming’ phase which is when they start to conflict as individuals put forward ideas which will be challenged by others in a bid to gain power and position over others. After this the ‘Norming’ phase follows and it is at this point that individual roles are defined and accepted
Reid Hastie, in his book “Wiser,” discusses many of the common points of how groups succeed and fail mainly due to group think. Throughout his years of research, he found a number of attributes that effective teams have in common. From his book, we have extracted ten important lessons that we believe are the most important for teams to learn and implement to be high performing. These findings also relate to the “5 Dysfunctions of a Team” that are outlined by Patrick Lencioni. Teachings taken from “Wiser” are symptoms, or indicators, of dysfunctions within a team, and many of his solutions help teams to overcome certain dysfunctions.
In the third stage the norms in group are formed, team is adapting to the leader. Positions and roles are clarified and the team move forward, they participate
The third stage is the Norming stage, this is where the team members resolve tension and work together as a unified team in order to achieve the teams common goal/goals.
The human service worker recognizes that productive team work is essential for an organization’s progress. A 2006 survey found that 91% of high-level managers view teams as essential to the organization’s goals, and a 2012 review found that teams provided 35% of the organization’s work (Harley-McClaskey, 2017). The leader takes actions to build the team, such as telling people about it to find potential members and to get assistance developing it. He or she searches for members who possess the necessary skills and offers training to those who have the potential to learn. Members must agree to pursue the goals, which advance the organization, over self-interests. A team has developed roles, strategies, and goals. In contrast, a work group is a potential team because members are still developing these components. Some work groups transform into teams over 6 - 9 months. A leader can assess a work group or team’s developmental stage and encourage growth (Harley-McClaskey, 2017).
Specifically, this paper will address the following topics: the definition of a group, the roles played within the group, a description of the group member personalities, the intended focus of the group, how the group worked together as a team and the process that was involved, how conflict was resolved, and how the group emerged as a group at the end of the situation.
First, here is a summary of the development stages of a team. In the forming stage, team members come togetherand form initial impressions. They socialize in order to get to know each other and bond with other team members. In the storming stage, team members experience hostility and infighting over tasks and how the team works. In the norming stage, team members start to come together and realize what needs to be accomplished. In the performing stage, team members are well-organized and well-functioningand maintain a positive balance. In the adjourning stage, team members achieve closure when the project is accomplished.
The phases of group improvement are Shaping: a gathering of individuals meet up to finish a common reason. Their underlying achievement will rely on upon their commonality with each other's work style, their experience on past groups, and the lucidity of their doled out mission.
After reading The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Pat Lencioni, discussing the function of effective teams in class, and completing various team building exercises, I have developed a much better understanding of the importance of a proper team in a business setting and how good team work can produce more efficient and productive results.
When the group forms for the first time, members are depending on the group leader to provide guidance. “A major characteristic of this first stage of group development is the significant amount of member dependency on the designated leader” (Wheelan, 1994, p. 14). Each member is hoping they will be accepted and included as a member. According to Wheelan (2005a) “The initial stage of development focuses on issues of inclusion and dependency, as members attempt to identify behavior acceptable to the leader and other group members” (p. 119).
The Woodson foundation needs to understand all five stages in order to be successful. The stages are a useful framework for understanding group development (274). If they understand the five stages they eventually achieve their goal. Each stage plays an important role in the project. A understand of these stages promotes cohesiveness and measures progression. Once they look back from stage 5 to stages 1&2 they realize how the differences became similarities for the common goal.
The science of team building is an art. The uncontrollable variables are people. Just putting a group of talented individuals together for the sole purpose of goal achievement can be met with disastrous results. It can leave individuals left feeling unfulfilled and lead to costly mistakes in the long run. While team building can be considered an art, there are some methods and approaches that can assist with successful builds. While no approach is full proof, taking time to acclimate oneself with human
A theory of team working that details the stages of team development that are typical to any type of team