Creating Effective Teams

A Guide for Members and Leaders
Fifth Edition
Susan A. Wheelan - GDQ Associates, Inc.
Creating Effective Teams
November 2014 | 168 pages | Sage US
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Description

A practical guide for building and sustaining top-performing teams  

Based on the author’s many years of consulting experience with teams in the public and private sectors, Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders describes why teams are important, how they function, and what makes them productive. Susan A. Wheelan covers in depth the four stages of a team—forming, storming, norming, and performing—clearly illustrating the developmental nature of teams and describing what happens in each stage. Separate chapters are devoted to the responsibilities of team leaders and team members. Problems that occur frequently in groups are highlighted, followed by what-you-can-do sections that offer specific advice. Real-life examples and questionnaires are used throughout the book, giving readers the opportunity for self-evaluation.

Contents

Chapter 1: Why Groups?

  • Groups Have a Long History of Success
  • We Need Groups Every Day
  • Groups Increase Our Knowledge Base
  • When Teams Are Good, They're Very, Very Good
  • Creating Effective Teams
  • How to Use This Book

Chapter 2: Effective Organizational Support for Teams

  • Plant Groups in a Favorable Organizational Climate
  • Give Groups What They Need to Do Their Best
  • Pick Members Based on Their Ability to Do the Task and Their Ability to Contribute to Group Success
  • Educate People for Group Participation Competence
  • Avoid Unsubstantiated Team Development and Consultation Strategies
  • Avoid Helping Groups Too Much
  • Make Sure That Each Group Has Enough Autonomy to Do Its Work but Remains Connected With the Rest of the Organization
  • Conduct Organizational Support Reviews Regularly
  • The Organizational Support Checklist

Chapter 3: From Groups to Teams: The Stages of Group Development

  • Stage 1: Dependency and Inclusion
  • Stage 2: Counterdependency and Fighting
  • Stage 3: Trust and Structure
  • Stage 4: Work
  • Surviving Group Development

Chapter 4: How Do High Performance Teams Function?

  • The Characteristics of High Performance Teams
  • 10 Keys to Productivity
  • Goals
  • Roles
  • Interdependence
  • Leadership
  • Communication and Feedback
  • Discussion, Decision Making, and Planningication
  • Implementation and Evaluation
  • Norms and Individual Differences
  • Structure
  • Cooperation and Conflict Management
  • Team Performance Checklist

Chapter 5: Effective Team Members

  • Don’t Blame Others for Group Problems
  • Encourage the Process of Goal, Role, and Task Clarification
  • Encourage the Adoption of an Open Communication Structure in Which All Member Input and Feedback Is Heard
  • Promote an Appropriate Ratio of Task and Supportive Communications
  • Promote the Use of Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Procedures
  • Encourage the Establishment of Norms That Support Productivity, Innovation, and Freedom of Expression
  • Go Along With Norms That Promote Group Effectiveness and Productivity
  • Promote Group Cohesion and Cooperation
  • Effective Member Checklist

Chapter 6: Effective Team Leadership

  • Don’t Take On Every Leadership Assignment You Are Offered
  • Adjust Your Leadership Style to Meet the Developmental Needs of the Group at a Particular Time
  • Leadership at Stage 1: Be a Directive and Confident Leader
  • Leadership at Stage 2: When Members Begin to Demand More Participation in Running the Group, Slowly Begin to Empower Them
  • Leadership at Stage 3: Involve Members in the Leadership Function
  • Leadership at Stage 4: Participate as an Expert Member of Your Team
  • Effective Leader Checklist

Chapter 7: Navigating Stage 1

  • Goals of Stage 1
  • Concerns About Safety and Inclusion
  • Dependency on the Designated Leader
  • A Wish for Order and Structure

Chapter 8: Surviving Stage 2

  • Goals of Stage 2
  • Create a Unified Group Culture
  • Create a Unified and Effective Group Structure

Chapter 9: Reorganizing at Stage 3

  • Goals of Stage 3
  • Fine-Tuning Roles, Organization, and Procedures
  • Solidifying Positive Relationships

Chapter 10: Sustaining High Performance

  • Goals of Stage 4
  • Getting the Work Done Well
  • Making Decisions
  • Cohesion and Conflict
  • Maintaining High Performance

Chapter 11: Virtual Teams

  • Video Conferences
  • LinkedIn
  • Skype
  • Blogging
  • Virtual GDQ Online Scoring Systems
  • Star Trek Changed The World

Chapter 12: Recent Research

  • On Average, How Long Does The Development Process Take?
  • Does Group Size Affect Group Productivity?
  • Does Group Age In Months Affect Group Productivity?
  • How Do Work Groups, In Different Sectors Function?
  • Do Leadership Teams Or Membership Work Teams Function More Effectively?
  • A Final Thought

Additional materials

Description

A practical guide for building and sustaining top-performing teams  

Based on the author’s many years of consulting experience with teams in the public and private sectors, Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders describes why teams are important, how they function, and what makes them productive. Susan A. Wheelan covers in depth the four stages of a team—forming, storming, norming, and performing—clearly illustrating the developmental nature of teams and describing what happens in each stage. Separate chapters are devoted to the responsibilities of team leaders and team members. Problems that occur frequently in groups are highlighted, followed by what-you-can-do sections that offer specific advice. Real-life examples and questionnaires are used throughout the book, giving readers the opportunity for self-evaluation.

Contents

Chapter 1: Why Groups?

  • Groups Have a Long History of Success
  • We Need Groups Every Day
  • Groups Increase Our Knowledge Base
  • When Teams Are Good, They're Very, Very Good
  • Creating Effective Teams
  • How to Use This Book

Chapter 2: Effective Organizational Support for Teams

  • Plant Groups in a Favorable Organizational Climate
  • Give Groups What They Need to Do Their Best
  • Pick Members Based on Their Ability to Do the Task and Their Ability to Contribute to Group Success
  • Educate People for Group Participation Competence
  • Avoid Unsubstantiated Team Development and Consultation Strategies
  • Avoid Helping Groups Too Much
  • Make Sure That Each Group Has Enough Autonomy to Do Its Work but Remains Connected With the Rest of the Organization
  • Conduct Organizational Support Reviews Regularly
  • The Organizational Support Checklist

Chapter 3: From Groups to Teams: The Stages of Group Development

  • Stage 1: Dependency and Inclusion
  • Stage 2: Counterdependency and Fighting
  • Stage 3: Trust and Structure
  • Stage 4: Work
  • Surviving Group Development

Chapter 4: How Do High Performance Teams Function?

  • The Characteristics of High Performance Teams
  • 10 Keys to Productivity
  • Goals
  • Roles
  • Interdependence
  • Leadership
  • Communication and Feedback
  • Discussion, Decision Making, and Planningication
  • Implementation and Evaluation
  • Norms and Individual Differences
  • Structure
  • Cooperation and Conflict Management
  • Team Performance Checklist

Chapter 5: Effective Team Members

  • Don’t Blame Others for Group Problems
  • Encourage the Process of Goal, Role, and Task Clarification
  • Encourage the Adoption of an Open Communication Structure in Which All Member Input and Feedback Is Heard
  • Promote an Appropriate Ratio of Task and Supportive Communications
  • Promote the Use of Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Procedures
  • Encourage the Establishment of Norms That Support Productivity, Innovation, and Freedom of Expression
  • Go Along With Norms That Promote Group Effectiveness and Productivity
  • Promote Group Cohesion and Cooperation
  • Effective Member Checklist

Chapter 6: Effective Team Leadership

  • Don’t Take On Every Leadership Assignment You Are Offered
  • Adjust Your Leadership Style to Meet the Developmental Needs of the Group at a Particular Time
  • Leadership at Stage 1: Be a Directive and Confident Leader
  • Leadership at Stage 2: When Members Begin to Demand More Participation in Running the Group, Slowly Begin to Empower Them
  • Leadership at Stage 3: Involve Members in the Leadership Function
  • Leadership at Stage 4: Participate as an Expert Member of Your Team
  • Effective Leader Checklist

Chapter 7: Navigating Stage 1

  • Goals of Stage 1
  • Concerns About Safety and Inclusion
  • Dependency on the Designated Leader
  • A Wish for Order and Structure

Chapter 8: Surviving Stage 2

  • Goals of Stage 2
  • Create a Unified Group Culture
  • Create a Unified and Effective Group Structure

Chapter 9: Reorganizing at Stage 3

  • Goals of Stage 3
  • Fine-Tuning Roles, Organization, and Procedures
  • Solidifying Positive Relationships

Chapter 10: Sustaining High Performance

  • Goals of Stage 4
  • Getting the Work Done Well
  • Making Decisions
  • Cohesion and Conflict
  • Maintaining High Performance

Chapter 11: Virtual Teams

  • Video Conferences
  • LinkedIn
  • Skype
  • Blogging
  • Virtual GDQ Online Scoring Systems
  • Star Trek Changed The World

Chapter 12: Recent Research

  • On Average, How Long Does The Development Process Take?
  • Does Group Size Affect Group Productivity?
  • Does Group Age In Months Affect Group Productivity?
  • How Do Work Groups, In Different Sectors Function?
  • Do Leadership Teams Or Membership Work Teams Function More Effectively?
  • A Final Thought

Additional materials

SAGE Publishing Logo

Creating Effective Teams

A Guide for Members and Leaders


November 2014 | 168 pages | Sage US

Format Published Date ISBN Price

A practical guide for building and sustaining top-performing teams  

Based on the author’s many years of consulting experience with teams in the public and private sectors, Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders describes why teams are important, how they function, and what makes them productive. Susan A. Wheelan covers in depth the four stages of a team—forming, storming, norming, and performing—clearly illustrating the developmental nature of teams and describing what happens in each stage. Separate chapters are devoted to the responsibilities of team leaders and team members. Problems that occur frequently in groups are highlighted, followed by what-you-can-do sections that offer specific advice. Real-life examples and questionnaires are used throughout the book, giving readers the opportunity for self-evaluation.

Table Of Contents:

  • Chapter 1: Why Groups?
  • Groups Have a Long History of Success
  • We Need Groups Every Day
  • Groups Increase Our Knowledge Base
  • When Teams Are Good, They're Very, Very Good
  • Creating Effective Teams
  • How to Use This Book
  • Chapter 2: Effective Organizational Support for Teams
  • Plant Groups in a Favorable Organizational Climate
  • Give Groups What They Need to Do Their Best
  • Pick Members Based on Their Ability to Do the Task and Their Ability to Contribute to Group Success
  • Educate People for Group Participation Competence
  • Avoid Unsubstantiated Team Development and Consultation Strategies
  • Avoid Helping Groups Too Much
  • Make Sure That Each Group Has Enough Autonomy to Do Its Work but Remains Connected With the Rest of the Organization
  • Conduct Organizational Support Reviews Regularly
  • The Organizational Support Checklist
  • Chapter 3: From Groups to Teams: The Stages of Group Development
  • Stage 1: Dependency and Inclusion
  • Stage 2: Counterdependency and Fighting
  • Stage 3: Trust and Structure
  • Stage 4: Work
  • Surviving Group Development
  • Chapter 4: How Do High Performance Teams Function?
  • The Characteristics of High Performance Teams
  • 10 Keys to Productivity
  • Goals
  • Roles
  • Interdependence
  • Leadership
  • Communication and Feedback
  • Discussion, Decision Making, and Planningication
  • Implementation and Evaluation
  • Norms and Individual Differences
  • Structure
  • Cooperation and Conflict Management
  • Team Performance Checklist
  • Chapter 5: Effective Team Members
  • Don’t Blame Others for Group Problems
  • Encourage the Process of Goal, Role, and Task Clarification
  • Encourage the Adoption of an Open Communication Structure in Which All Member Input and Feedback Is Heard
  • Promote an Appropriate Ratio of Task and Supportive Communications
  • Promote the Use of Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Procedures
  • Encourage the Establishment of Norms That Support Productivity, Innovation, and Freedom of Expression
  • Go Along With Norms That Promote Group Effectiveness and Productivity
  • Promote Group Cohesion and Cooperation
  • Effective Member Checklist
  • Chapter 6: Effective Team Leadership
  • Don’t Take On Every Leadership Assignment You Are Offered
  • Adjust Your Leadership Style to Meet the Developmental Needs of the Group at a Particular Time
  • Leadership at Stage 1: Be a Directive and Confident Leader
  • Leadership at Stage 2: When Members Begin to Demand More Participation in Running the Group, Slowly Begin to Empower Them
  • Leadership at Stage 3: Involve Members in the Leadership Function
  • Leadership at Stage 4: Participate as an Expert Member of Your Team
  • Effective Leader Checklist
  • Chapter 7: Navigating Stage 1
  • Goals of Stage 1
  • Concerns About Safety and Inclusion
  • Dependency on the Designated Leader
  • A Wish for Order and Structure
  • Chapter 8: Surviving Stage 2
  • Goals of Stage 2
  • Create a Unified Group Culture
  • Create a Unified and Effective Group Structure
  • Chapter 9: Reorganizing at Stage 3
  • Goals of Stage 3
  • Fine-Tuning Roles, Organization, and Procedures
  • Solidifying Positive Relationships
  • Chapter 10: Sustaining High Performance
  • Goals of Stage 4
  • Getting the Work Done Well
  • Making Decisions
  • Cohesion and Conflict
  • Maintaining High Performance
  • Chapter 11: Virtual Teams
  • Video Conferences
  • LinkedIn
  • Skype
  • Blogging
  • Virtual GDQ Online Scoring Systems
  • Star Trek Changed The World
  • Chapter 12: Recent Research
  • On Average, How Long Does The Development Process Take?
  • Does Group Size Affect Group Productivity?
  • Does Group Age In Months Affect Group Productivity?
  • How Do Work Groups, In Different Sectors Function?
  • Do Leadership Teams Or Membership Work Teams Function More Effectively?
  • A Final Thought

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