Teamwork

=TEAMWORK=

media type="youtube" key="TC7tQgJcfXI" height="385" width="480" Teamwork enables people to accomplish amazing feats. It is the skill of using your individual talents in cooperation with those of others. Employers seek candidates who combine their expertise and knowledge with an ability to communicate and work effectively with their coworkers.Join us as we learn about what it means to be a team player and how this skill can lead to great success in the workplace.

1. What does it mean to be a good teammate? List several characteristics that are essential to working well with others. How does each of these characteristics improve your ability to work as a team?2. How can your ability to communicate and work together efficiently affect your retention and/or advancement in a particular career?
 * DISCUSSION QUESTIONS**


 * ACTIVITIES**

Organize into pairs. Designate one person as the leader and the other as the builder. Each pair should sit back to back. The builder will create a structure from materials such as Legos, tinker toys, or similar items. The leader on the team will have all the materials necessary to duplicate this object, but he is not allowed to see the finished structure. It is the builder’s job to use clear and precise communication skills to direct her teammate to build the same structure with his materials.
 * 1. BUILDER’S CHALLENGE**

The two must use excellent communication skills to complete this task. At the end of the project, discuss how each group worked together as a team. Identify the skills you used (listening, asking questions, clarifying, etc.)

Break into pairs. There will be a simple obstacle course composed of items to walk around, step over, and duck under. One member of each team is blindfolded and must rely on her partner to direct her through the course. Leaders must give clear, specific directions, and their partners must rely solely on their listening skills to gather information about how to navigate the course. Once each partner has gone through the obstacle course, discuss how it felt to be in each position. How did it feel to be the leader and have someone completely rely on you for guidance toward the goal? As the person blindfolded, how did it feel to have to place all your trust in your teammate? What can you infer about the importance of trust and reliability in a professional setting?
 * 2. OBSTACLE COURSE**