Page 8 - Play to Learn -- In the New Nursing Home Environment

T E lsH
eam ssentia andout
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Teams that work well do so largely because they represent the following qualities:
1. Small size. Teams work best when all members can make real connections with each other. Basically, a team member should easily be able to list off the names of teammates. There may be an overall department team or organization-wide team consisting of many people, but the real work is most easily done in smaller groups.
2. Complementary skills. All team members are cross-trained, versatile workers. They at least know something about the main components of others’ jobs while having a range of strengths.
3. Common purpose. All members of the team are working for the same thing in everything that they do.
4. Clear performance goals. What does the team expect of itself? Part of every such goal is that the team does it together - all team members contribute. This covers values such as respect, punctuality, kindness, etc.
5. Explicit working approach. We have, for instance, a common purpose of customer service. Our performance goal is to do this with respect. Our approach is we ask the customers what they want instead of deciding “what is best for them.”
6. Mutual accountability. I am responsible for my behavior and work. I hold you responsible for your behavior and work. You also are responsible for yourself and holding me responsible. We all check each other to be sure we are being the
best we can be.
Qualities of a good team
TEAM GAMES