Self Managing Teams

One aspect of being a self-managing team is taking responsibility for and providing leadership in the team’s tasks and relationships. The more the team is managing how it gets at the work and how it enables relationships so that they help in the work, the more the team can be said to be self managing. The team operates within the broader vision, goals and time lines of the organization. Within that context organizational leaders and the team plan how to make the team more self-managing.

FUNCTIONS THAT HELP A TEAM FULFILL ITS TASK	WHEN DID YOU SEE THIS IN THE TEAM?
Goal Setting - helping the team to establish a sense of direction; to set goals or objectives; to get a vision.
Organize the Work - enabling the team to get organized so it can do its work.
Time Management - facilitating the team in setting time lines; in paying attention to time lines.
Self Direction in Working - the team and individuals taking responsibility to get the information they need to do the work; taking initiative in the work.
Self Evaluation Process - the team creating standards for quality in its work; setting up a process to evaluate its work.
FUNCTIONS THAT HELP A TEAM HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS IN DOING ITS WORK
Providing Support and Encouragement - helping each other offer and use their knowledge and skills.
Facilitating Communication - using good communication skills; "gate keeping" by helping keep communication open, keep people involved, etc.
Improving Team Relationships - helping people understand each other; appropriate use of humor; etc.
Managing Conflict - helping explore differences; using problem solving, negotiating and outside help as needed; knowing when to involve others to help resolve the conflict.

©Robert A. Gallagher, 1993

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