7 Teamwork and Group Skills

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Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

• Recognize the important role leadership plays in guiding constructive teams and groups. • Evaluate types of teams and various background factors. • Respond to each stage of team development and other team processes. • Utilize a systems approach to teamwork. • Understand how to build and guide high-performance teams.

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Introduction

Introduction

What does NASCAR racing have in common with book publishing? Both rely on teams and groups to successfully complete their tasks. As NASCAR’s website (2015) puts it, “a full-blown pit stop consists of the following—changing four tires, adding a full tank of Sunoco racing fuel, wiping the grille clean and making minor adjustments to the car. Oh, and the really good team can accomplish all of that in 12 seconds with the allotted six crew members” (para. 1–2). Typically, the individuals involved are the rear tire carrier, the rear tire changer, a jackman, the front tire carrier, the front tire changer, and a gas man. A support crew works behind the pit crew to make sure everything moves smoothly. A crew chief and his/her car chief lead the group, assisted by an engineer.

The leadership team creates a strategy that the crew must carry out. Several factors dictate a team’s pit-road strategy. Race length, caution flags, fuel mileage, and tire wear are all consid- ered before the crew chief decides on an appropriate course of action. Then, the team must make adjustments on the fly. Change two tires or four (or zero)? Other corrections make sure the car will not get worse due to changing track conditions.

All the while, the car’s driver receives most of the attention and fame, as the supporting cast does the dirty work. Ma