What Stage is Your Team In? Teamwork Series

The Team Handbook*, says that teams go through four predictable stages of growth as they learn to work together effectively.  Key word here is "effectively."

Stage 1:  Forming

When a team is first organized or when there is a change up in who is on the team or who leads the team, forming will be the best way to describe the team.

At this stage, team members are exploring the boundaries of acceptable group behavior and trying to establish their position and status with the team.  While being somewhat excited about the opportunity to be on a team or reorganizing a team, they may be suspicious and anxious about how everything will work.  It is perfectly normal at this stage to see little progress, as the team may complain about the purpose of the team and are inclined to get stuck in discussions that end up nowhere.  Impatience and frustration are common symptoms of members on the team in this stage.

Stage 2:  Storming

At this stage the team members are beginning to realize that the task and responsibilities of the team are different and more difficult than first imagined.  Some may become impatient with the lack of progress and begin to vocalize their ideas and resist the need to collaborate. Others might simply withdraw as discussions may start to heat up.  They are beginning to understand one another and realize how the differences in personalities, agendas and communication style are going to impact them.  Storming takes on many different faces, but it is part of the predictable process of a team trying to work together.  Sometimes a team stays in stuck in storming and has a low success rate.

Stage 3:  Norming

This is the stage when team members are accepting the individuality of each person, beginning to trust the ground rules to keep equality in the process, and realizing that competitiveness must give way to cooperation.  They begin to look forward to the contribution of the others on the team as a sense of team spirit and dedication to a common goal unfolds.  With this shift in team energy, they begin to make significant progress.

Stage 4:  Performing

Team members now have insights into personal and group processes.  They recognize, and even anticipate, how they can each contribute to the mission.  They quickly identify and resolve interpersonal communication problems.  They develop a synergy that enables rapid progress.

What stage is your team in?  Encourage and lead the team to the performing stage!  For your free copy of a Team Effectiveness Survey, email honey@interaction-training.com.

Still learning, 

Honey

*Scholtes, Peter R. and other contributors, The Team Handbook.  Madison, WI: Joiner Associates, Inc. 1988

Teamwork Series - What Kind of Team Player Are You?

What are your contributions to your team?  Do you help it function effectively or contribute to it creating havoc?  Are you the leader?  Who is the leader?  Is your team well-fed or suffering from malnutrition?

Teams that are neglected will begin to malfunction.  Soon havoc and morale issues will set in for all those on the team and can quickly spread to those that have to interface with a dysfunctional team.  What shape is your team in?  Are you working at helping the team succeed or are you a bystander?  What do people on the team say about you?  How would you rate yourself at teamwork?

Signs your team is in trouble include:

Nagging

Judging

Sarcasm

Complaining/Criticizing

Blaming

Backbiting

No Accountability

Maybe you have a ringleader or member on the team that just can’t let something go or frequently uses sarcasm.  Scapegoating or blaming others is an ideal way for a troublemaker to take the focus and shift it to someone else. 

“Confrontation simply means meeting the truth head-on.”  Coach Mike Krzyzewski

Do your part!  Become a quality contributor and play a key role in the team working well together. Check out the following if you want to play for a great team!

Keep it real - What's the purpose of this team?

Have a compelling direction - What's the vision?  What are we trying to do?

What's the game plan? - Who is to do what?  Where are the limits and boundaries?

Where is the top of the food chain in all this? - How does the company encourage and model teamwork?

Can leadership lead?  Who has the whistle?  Can team members follow? - Who's the coach?  How supportive are you about coaching or being coached?

Still learning,

Honey

Money Matters for the Teller!

There are many key disciplines when it comes to handling money.  Here are just a few...

All currency in the teller’s possession should be face-up, appear orderly and stored neatly.

When purchasing currency, the teller should verify the purchase immediately turn the strap or replace it with a new strap, stamp the strap with his or her teller stamp, and initial it.  All strapped currency in the possession of a teller should have the purchasing teller's initials and dated teller stamp on the up side of the strap. In order to prevent misuse, it is important all used currency straps be torn in two.

The teller's cash handling responsibilities begin anew daily.  Starting with the moment the teller takes possession of the cash and right up to the point the money is returned to safekeeping at the end of the day.  A best practice is for the teller to start the day counting and recording the cash drawer validating the drawer is intact. 

If interrupted during counting, stop and start again.  It's better to take the extra minute than to shortchange or overpay someone.

Avoid making unnecessary conversation when counting cash or preparing a cashier’s check.  Discipline is important to avoid being distracted during the counting steps.

Ask customers to count large amounts of cash before they leave the window. As an added precaution, follow procedures for having customers sign for large amounts of cash, to indicate receipt of the money.

Handling currency and coin in a consistent and professional manner assures the work is simplified and the chance of error is reduced. Equally important, tellers develop the skill to concentrate on both the transaction and the customer.

Ace all audits by following proper procedures and being consistent.  Email me, honey@interaction-training.com for your free copy of the Audit Checklist for Tellers.

Still learning,

Honey