Managing People in Emergencies → Team Working

Team Working

Team work is the essence of humanitarian work. However, building a strong sense of team work is particularly challenging when there is a mix of professions, cultures, styles and expectations, and high turnover of staff.

Team effectiveness requires an atmosphere of…..

• Commitment – by all team members to a common goal. How clear is your team’s goal?
• Cooperation and collaboration – with team members working for and with each other , recognizing and sharing their skills and knowledge. How clearly does your team understand each others’ roles and responsibilities?
• Discussion and decision-making procedures - Decisions can be made either by i) the leader, ii) a selected minority of the team (e.g. those with expertise on the question), iii) a majority; or iv) the team can reach a consensus, in which everyone agrees to the decision to some degree.
• How clear are your team members about what the team is expected to decide, how they will make the decision, and who will be accountable?
• Conflict management - Conflict is an inevitable ingredient of the decision-making process, but it can destroy the process if it is not managed correctly. Use these six steps to help your team work through its conflicts.  

Step 1: Clarify and identify the cause of conflict, then try to understand each other's point of view.  

Step 2: Find common goals on which all members can agree.  

Step 3: Determine what the team's options are.  

Step 4: Identify and remove barriers to consensus.  

Step 5: Find a solution that everyone can accept.  

Step 6: Make sure all parties understand what the solution means to them. 

• Open, honest, frequent communication - Successful teams develop effective communication processes - that means team members understand and employ the following communication skills, which engender trust and a sense of belonging in its members. How effective are your team’s communications?

Core skills for building trust

• Listening – and understanding each other’s points of view
• Sacrifice – being prepared to give and take
• Sharing – information, skills, resources
• Communication – open and honest, respectful
• Language – increase inclusion by agreeing a common language(s); avoid jargon; speak in a positive manner
• Hard work and competence – working for the team and not just themselves, and using everyone’s skills
• Persuade – encourage everyone to exchange, defend and adapt their ideas

Regularly review how effective your team feel they are working together - and adapt accordingly