Implementing truly effective teams is more difficult than often considered. In this webinar, we will take a realistic and practical look at how an organization's leaders can foster successful teams. The challenges of team-building are central to leadership in general, including: clarifying vision and purpose, taking a whole-systems view, facilitating constructive interaction, motivating performance, assessing progress, and skillful problem-solving. I will share real-life case studies; tips and tools; and resources for further learning.

1. Building Real Teams:
A Leadership Perspective
Bob Greene
May 2, 2012
A Service
Of: Sponsored by:

2. INTEGRATED PLANNING
Advising nonprofits in: www.synthesispartnership.com
• Strategy
• Planning (617) 969-1881
• Organizational Development info@synthesispartnership.com
A Service
Of: Sponsored by:

3. Affordable collaborative data
management in the cloud.
A Service
Of: Sponsored by:

4. Today’s Speaker
Bob Greene
Coach/Consultant
Bob Greene Coaching and Consulting Hosting:
Assisting with chat questions:
April Hunt, Nonprofit Webinars Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership
A Service
Of: Sponsored by:

5. Nonprofit Webinars
Bob Greene
Bob Greene Coaching & Consulting
Bob@BGCoach.net
www.BGCoach.net

6. 1) Teams—real teams—can provide terrific
benefits.
2) However, great teams don’t just happen.
They take intention and work.
3) Leadership plays a vital role in setting the
stage and fostering team effectiveness—
a role that is often underestimated.

7. • You’ll receive a link to download these slides after
the session.
• On request, I will send you a handout packet with
resources to complement the presentation.
• I’ll provide illustrations from my consulting and
coaching with leaders and teams.
• I’ll respond to as many questions as I can in the
Q&A. And feel free to contact me after the
webinar.

8. What is a Team?
A Team is a small number of people with
complementary skills who are committed to
a common purpose, performance goals,
and approach for which they hold
themselves mutually accountable.
Katzenbach & Smith, The Wisdom of Teams

9. Benefits of Real Teams
• Accomplish work that
requires integrated efforts.
• Draw on diverse skills and
experience.
• Address “open-ended” problems, where
the solutions are not known in advance.
• Promote a sum greater than the parts.

10. A Group Does Not
Automatically Become a Team
• It takes shared
intention, effort, and
communication.
• There will likely be
bumps in the road.
• Leadership must set the
stage & be engaged.

11. Groups Are Not Real Teams
There is a difference
between a group of
people and a real
team.
---The Wisdom of Teams

12. What Leaders Can Do to Foster
Real Teams
 Ensure the system
supports teams
 Clarify expectations
 Model & foster team
behavior
 Assess progress & team
functioning

13. What Leaders Can Do to Foster
Real Teams
 Ensure the system supports teams
 Clarify expectations
 Model & foster team behavior
 Assess progress & team functioning

14. Ensure the System Supports Teams
“Systems thinking is the process of
understanding how things influence one
another within a whole.” (Wikipedia)
A team’s success often depends on
factors outside of the team in the larger
organization. Leadership must maintain
this broader perspective.

16. Ensure the System Supports Teams
 Reward team as well as individual
performance.
 Foster cooperation between teams.
 Foster support from other leaders.
 Provide teams adequate resources.
 Plan opportunities for learning skills.

17. Force-Field Analysis
Forces Driving Change Restraining Forces

18. What Leaders Can Do to Foster
Real Teams
 Ensure the system supports teams
 Clarify expectations
 Model & foster team behavior
 Assess progress & team functioning

19. Create a Team Charter
 Purpose
 Goals
 Roles
 Procedures
 Interaction

20. Identify Shared Group Norms
Discuss as a team &
develop a set of
behavioral norms.
Key tip: Ensure
everyone agrees what
each proposed norm
looks like in practice.

21. What Leaders Can Do to Foster
Real Teams
 Ensure the system supports teams
 Clarify expectations
 Model & foster team behavior
 Assess progress & team functioning

22. Model & Foster Team Behavior
 Allow for the team’s development.
 Delegate effectively (specify
accountability in team’s charter).
 Model authentic communication
and conflict resolution.
 Attend to how the senior
leadership team works together.

23. What Leaders Can Do to Foster
Real Teams
 Ensure the system supports teams
 Clarify expectations
 Model & foster team behavior
 Assess progress & team functioning

24. Focus on Accountability
and Assessment
Debrief projects
Conduct team self-assessments
(with reviewing norms)
Review team charter

25. Team Debrief
Discuss how the team has done working together:
• How did the team promote
creativity and achieving results?
• How did the team encourage
everyone to contribute?
• How did the team deal
with disagreements?
• What did you learn that you can use to improve
your next team assignment?

26. Thank You!
• These slides will be available to download at the
Nonprofit Webinars site.
• While there check out the full schedule of free
Nonprofit Webinars.
• Contact me if you’d like a copy of the handout
packet for this presentation: Bob@BGCoach.net

27. Find listings for our current season
of webinars and register at:
NonprofitWebinars.com
A Service
Of: Sponsored by: