The NSW Resources Regulator has prepared a number of Facts Sheets to help industry better understand the role of associated non-technical skills (ANTS) in the certificate of competence scheme and the type of training programs that may be delivered to address those requirements.
The following extracts are taken from Facts Sheet No.9 which addresses Teamwork.
‘Teams and team work
Teams are made up of two or more people who work together to achieve a goal. For a team to work people must be willing to adapt, to understand one another and have a positive attitude. Team work succeeds through shared effort, clear aims and coordinated action. Each member has a special role to play in achieving the team’s goal. Breakdown in team work can cause serious incidents. Breakdowns can come from misunderstanding team roles, poor coordination, disagreements, conflicting objectives and communication problems.
Team performance
Teams have four basic functions:
- Supporting others
- Solving conflicts
- Exchanging information
- Co-ordinating activities
Team performance is influenced by:
- Individual inputs – individual contributions to the collective work, performance strategies and how well they match the task, knowledge and skills applied by each team member.
- Leadership inputs – leadership style, knowledge and skills, personality.
- Organisational work task and environmental inputs – design of the task, availability of information, resources, rewards, management style, culture, appropriate make-up of the team.
- Team structure inputs – team size, actual roles and responsibilities, status of each team member, balance of personality types, unity of the team.
Advantages of team work
Building teams and achieving effective team work has many advantages for organisations. These include:
- Providing stability and consistency when an organisation is undergoing change in its environment, strategy and structure
- Supporting quick and cost-effective development and delivery of products and services
- Enhancing organisational learning as team members share knowledge which is not lost to the group when one member leaves
- Saving time on tasks, by working together rather than alone
- Improving quality management and promoting innovation from cross fertilisation of ideas
- Effectively processing information in complex work environments in ways individuals cannot
- Promoting staff involvement.
Training in team work
Here are four suggested team training processes:
- Cross-training – team members are trained in the tasks of other team members.
- Team self-correction – team members review their work, identifying and correcting team errors while also identifying ways to improve future team performance.
- Event-based training – a structured and systematic approach to specific teamwork skill or task training in which participants have the chance to practise and demonstrate their skills and meet learning objectives. Participants are given feedback on the measures relating to their skill performance.
- Team facilitation training – relates to improving the team leader’s skills for fostering and enhancing teamwork and team effectiveness.’
For a full Copy of the Fact Sheet 9 click on the following link:
Leadership & Performance Partners are able to assist your mine or mine related business with team building program developed specifically to your needs. For further information contact us at info@leadershipandperformance.com.au