Top 3 Problems Exercise

You have been working in your own team throughout this semester, and the most successful teams have probably developed their own unique behavior patterns, understandings, and views of the world by now. While this is a strength for you, it is also a potential weakness, as your boundaries have been closed to ideas from others in the course. For this exercise, we will change groups.

You have a list of the 10 problems commonly associated with teams...

Each new team is to spend approximately 50 minutes together in a discussion of these top 10 problems. Members should share among each other stories and anecdotes regarding your experiences with these problems in your in-class team or other teams you have been part of.

You will note that the wording is intentionally a bit different than what we’ve used in class so far, so that you can make additional connections with phrases heard in the field. You may want to add a problem or two to the list.

Be careful -- no names, please. This is not a b---- session either, but a problem solving session.

After sharing information and stories, the [new]team should come to a consensus (based on their collective experiences) on what you believe to be the 3 most problematic of the 10 items for team effectiveness. Then you are to brainstorm at least 1 (or more) ideas on how to counter the problem and move beyond it. Put your 3 choices and the possible fixes on newsprint for quick presentation to the class.

After the session- reflection:

“If the answers are so obvious, why do the problems keep happening?”

How did it feel to be broken up from your old group, and have to start all over with a new group? How uncomfortable were you? Why do you think that was? What type of team members would be the most uncomfortable? Teams with high _____________ and/or problems with ___________?

What do you now appreciate more about your own team? What is more troubling?