Team Building

Every board must be able to fulfill its collective responsibilities. The more cohesive the board is, the easier jobs can become. Team building concepts and skills are integral to good board performance. Different approaches to team-building are based on the skills, practices, values and assumptions people bring to the table. These will vary significantly from board to board, and, to some degree, between members of the same board. Team building results in people working together in a systematic, unifying way. Team work is needed on the whole board and on committees within the board.

Qualities of an Effective Team

There is no single recipe for team building. There are, however, certain recurring themes. Any board or group should adopt the team qualities that are most important and appropriate for itself.

The five qualities are as follows:

1. Participation
2. Openness
3. Cohesiveness
4. Ability to Change
5. Shared Leadership

Participation

Participation is often linked to:

• Information available;
• Board members’ understanding of roles and expectations;
• The meeting process, ground rules, and effectiveness of the Chairperson.

Tips for Participation - Suggestions for the Chair:

• Distribute agenda and materials in advance
• Summarize the discussion and options periodically throughout the meeting
• Ask for other views- provide space for quieter members
• Encourage the discussion of other options, new ideas, and minority viewpoints
• Hold rounds periodically, especially if the group is small
• Treat conflict as a positive contribution to the discussion - a way to get ideas on the table
• Follow and enforce the meeting ground rules agreed upon by the group
• Summarize decisions and check that the group agrees

Suggestions for members:

• Read background information and come prepared
• Take the initiative, ask questions, and share your views if they have not already been expressed by someone else
• Listen to what others say
• Be willing to change your mind
• If you tend to speak out frequently, hold back sometimes and let others have their say
• Respect the meeting ground rules agreed upon by the group

Openness

What is it?

• Honesty and frankness – all relevant opinions and information get on the table;
• Trust – people take risks because they know they will be listened to and treated seriously. What they say will not be used against them later;
• Communication – people express themselves clearly and constructively and genuinely listen to others. All key information is shared.

Typical fears that limit openness include:

• Fear of retribution - fear that criticizing or dissenting might be seen as undermining the group and will lead to negative repercussions later on;
• Fear of looking foolish - the person does not feel informed or confident enough to speak out;
• Fear of conflict - some people are not comfortable taking part in debates and disagreements;
• Fear of isolation - afraid of being ostracized by the group.

These fears may be real if:

• There are power imbalances on the board, or abuse of formal power - the imbalance may not be explicit, but when some board members constantly defer to formal leaders it tends to inhibit openness among the other members;
• Important information is withheld by the Executive Director or Chairperson;
• There is poor conflict management among the Chair and the board as a whole.

Cohesiveness

What is it?

• Boards should be comprised of diverse members; however, the basic goals and values of the organization should be shared by all board members;
• The group is able to build consensus on key decisions;
• Members feel supported by the group even if there is disagreement among them.

What issues are involved?

• Clarification of individual and organizational values, and the connection or contradiction between them;
• The presence of divisions or "cliques" on the board;
• Mutual trust and respect.

Ability to Change

What is it?

• Creativity – the group is able to generate and accept new ideas;
• The membership and processes of the group constantly evolve- evolution is encouraged;
• All aspects of the board's work and the organization's work are open to questioning;
• The group engages in regular self-evaluation.

Comfort with change is related to: