3:15-4:15PM The Uneven Work Load: Understanding Teamwork & Roles
When one person feels like they’re doing more than the others, it can build frustration and lead to tension or burnout. The reality is that not everyone understands that pulling together as part of a working team is an act of intention. We can’t just tell staff, “work as a team.” We need to coach them to that success, and this session is designed to do that. Through discussion, roleplay and debriefing of activities including “The Uneven Load,” staff identify how imbalance can affect group cohesion and uncover potential dysfunctional roles in groups (such as “the overfunctioner,” “the ghost,” “the resentful helper,” etc.). Staff practice working through these challenges constructively so their frustration with colleagues doesn’t negatively affect their demeanor, professionalism, or productivity. Additionally, the session looks at the role of empathy and colleague support as a means to help grow understanding of team members’ actions. This session works well as a proactive training (“let’s make sure we’re a productive team of colleagues”) and as a remedy for dysfunctional team dynamics.
Speaker - Emily Golinski