Effective teams operate in a manner that is supported by:

• A shared goal/mission.
• A climate of trust, openness, and honest communication among members.
• A sense of belonging among members.
• Participatory leadership.
• Decision making by consensus.
• Established and agreed-upon ground rules.

Items for team consideration and discussion:

In what ways does our school improvement team share a common goal/mission to which we feel a strong commitment?

List the ways your team promotes and supports a climate where members are comfortable and open with each other?

How does the team make each member feel they belong to the team and as a result, committed to its actions?

List the ways the team shifts leadership among the members of the group and uses everyone as a resource?

What processes are used to assist the team to make decisions together that are of high quality and have the acceptance and support of the entire team to carry them out?

Do team members listen to each other and allow everyone to put forth ideas without being criticized or embarrassed?

Does the team deal with conflict productively?

Do team members recognize that they need each other's knowledge, skills, and resources to produce something together that could not be done as well alone?

For the most part, teams never fail because of a lack of expertise on a topic. Failure is usually due to conflict among team members, weak leadership or lack of commitment by the team. Here are a couple of traits each team member should bring to the task. Team members should:

• Regard diversity as an asset.
• Feel free to be creative and to take risks.
• Ongoing evaluation and self-correction.
• Feel as if they can depend on one another.

Items for team consideration and discussion:

Does each team member and the team as a whole

• Feel team members are viewed as unique people with valuable resources to contribute?
• Value diversity of opinions and ideas, or do we practice "groupthink?"
• Encourage one another to take risks by trying something different and view mistakes as part of learning?
• Strive constantly to improve themselves by examining their processes and practices?
• Look with a critical and constructive eye at what may be interfering with their operations?

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