Team Leadership

To lead people, walk beside them.

~Lao-tsu, Chinese philosopher (c. 4th-6th century BC)

Overview

Teams Described

Teams vs. Groups

Historical Perspective

Hills Team Leadership Model

Team Effectiveness

Principled Leadership

What is a team? (Johnson & Johnson, 1954)

Two or more people engaging in
structured interpersonal interactions
who:
Are

aware of their interdependence as

they strive to achieve mutual goals
Interact
Aware of who is and is not a member
Have specific roles or functions to perform
Have a limited life-span of membership

Group Vs. Team

Group

General mission
Individual
accountability
Individual
accomplishments

Team

Specific purpose
Team & individual
accountability
Team celebration of
accomplishments

Historical Perspective

1920s-30s: Study of Groups & Human

Relations
1940s: Group Dynamics
1960s-80s: Work Teams, Quality Teams
1990s: Team Effectiveness, Team
Variables, Team Performance

Team Leadership Model

Practical, prescriptive
Helps leader diagnose team problems and take action
Leaders job is to monitor the team and take action to
ensure team effectiveness
Provides a Mental Model

Designed to simplify and clarify complex nature of team

leadership and provide tool to aid leadership problem
solving

Leader needs to be flexible and have wide repertoire of

actions or skills to meet teams diverse needs
Team-based problem solving
Focus on continuous improvement

Hills Model for

Team
Leadership

Leadership Decision 1
Should I Monitor the Team
or Take Action?

Leaders can:

Diagnose, analyze, or forecast problems (monitoring) or

take immediate action to solve a problem

Focus on problems within the group (internal) or which

problems need intervention

Make choices about which solutions are the most

appropriate

Effective leaders have the ability to determine:

What interventions are needed, if any, to solve team

problems

Leadership Decision 2
Should I Intervene to Meet Task
or Relational Needs?
Task Functions

Getting job done

Making decisions
Solving problems
Adapting to change
Making plans
Achieving goals
Planning, visioning, organizing
Coordinating, training
Assessing performance

Relationship Functions

Developing positive climate

Solving interpersonal problems,
managing conflict
Collaborating, including, involving
Satisfying members needs,
fairness, consistency
Developing cohesion,
commitment, optimism, belonging
Trusting, supporting, advocating

Leadership Decision 3
Should I Intervene
Internally or Externally?
Internally

Conflict between group

members (relational)
Goals unclear (task)

Externally

Organization not providing proper

support to team

Actions may include:

Advocating, representing
Negotiating resources, support,
recognition
Networking
Buffering
Sharing relevant information

Characteristics of Effective
Teams (Larson & LaFasto, 1989)
Clear, elevating goals
Results-driven structure
Competent members
Unified commitment
Collaborative climate
Standards of excellence
External support & recognition
Principled leadership (see next slide)

Principled Leadership
(Larson & LaFasto, 1989)

Keeps the team focused on goal

Maintains collaborative climate
Builds confidence
Demonstrates technical competence
Sets priorities
Manages performance

Teams & Geese

Facts & Leadership Lessons

Learning Activity
Case Studies

Strengths & Criticisms

Strengths

Focus on real-life
organizational group work
Enables diagnosis of problems
Applying criteria to team
performance should lead to
excellence
Provides a cognitive guide
(mental map) that tries to
simplify a complex process
Takes into account changing
role (relationship/task
behaviors)

Criticisms

Not completely tested

Doesnt take into account
different types of groups or
stages of development
Doesnt provide on the spot
solutions

Journal Reflection

Rate a team you are a member of and have

provided leadership using the team excellence
and collaborative team leader questionnaire.

What were some of the strengths and

weaknesses of the team and its leadership?

Overall, do/did you feel that your group was

successful reaching their goals?