Teamwork Basics

Dr. Will Kurlinkus

1. Assets Inventory

What are each team

members strengths and
weaknesses?

What tasks would you be

good at and what tasks do
you know you need to avoid
or get careful feedback on?

Set up a place and schedule

on which to collaborate (I
suggest using Google docs
and doodle).

2. Structure Your Meetings: PPP

Begin your meeting with
showing off your work and
reviewing it together.
1. Progress: What are your
accomplishments, finished
items, and completed
tasks.
2. Problems: Challenges.
Items that you are stuck
and cant finish alone.
3. Plans: Goals and objectives
for the next reporting
period. These should
become Progress next
week.

3. Dividing and Conquering

Always end the meeting with
clearly defined objectives for
each group member (ideally
based in their skills).

Make sure these objectives are

broken down sequentially to
actually show the labor and
process/timeline involved in them.
First, Ill do this, then Ill do this.

At the beginning of the next

meeting tick off your objectives
list.

Keep this list so you know whos

done what type of work
throughout the project. And so
you can show your
boss/client/professor what stage
of the project youre at.

Kanban Boards

4. Use Your In-Class Time Wisely

Separate work separately, collaborative work
collaboratively: Use your time together efficiently.

Put things together as a group

Make sure you have times that you think collectively and
collaborate

Write questions you have for the group down and ask them

5. Giving Feedback
Feedback comes after PPP to make sure its goal oriented.

Start with compliments

Ask the creator to explain what they like and struggled with

Position good or bad feedback in terms of the product not the

person

Position good or bad feedback in terms of the projects

objectives

Praise in public, critique in private

Offer specific suggestions

Give an opportunity to respond

6. Someone Isnt Pulling Their Weight

1. Speak Up Early. Dont let people get away with not doing their work. The more
you do, they more they wont. The sooner you speak, the less mad youll be, and
the easier the conversation will be.

Dont accuse, ask them what happened and how they see the situation. They may not
have the skill to complete the task or may need further support.

Dont go one-on-one. Speak with the rest of the team before you speak with this person.

There is no reason to not do work. Even if you have a sick child at home, you still have
to do your job.

2. Give an Opportunity for them to make up work or do extra work on the next step.
3. Speak to the Boss: If these first 2 steps dont work, then speak to the boss (me).
Make sure you have ample evidence (your objectives list, for instance, and who
was assigned what).

In this class, if I am approached by an anonymous team member(s) that someone is

not doing their work and there is proof of this slacking then that person will receive 25
points off their teams final grade.