How EHC Members Can Build A Winning Team

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2001 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
How EHC Members Can Build A Winning Team
Touchdown

Objectives

• EHC members will learn principles of teamwork that will help their EH Club function more efficiently.
• EHC members will learn skills to enhance the productivity of their regular EH Club meetings.

Materials Needed

"Volunteers on the Move" handbook
"Basic Parliamentary Information," AGRICULTURE-384-9-94
Poster board and colored markers
Handouts:

A Lesson From the Geese
16 Steps to Building A Winning Team

Footballs (1 per point, optional)

Introduction

Let’s say you have a choice–

Be a member of a productive group or be part of a mediocre outfit.
Play on a championship team or never even come close to making the playoffs.
Grind away with a group that just never seems to click or get a bang out of being in a high-powered club that just seems to feed off past successes and gets better year after year.

Odds are you’ll choose the champions. Winning is more fun. Personal and group satisfaction climbs sharply when your team gives a "shoot the lights out" performance.

So how can you get a chance to belong to a group like that? Instead of changing teams, help change the team you’re already on. And, start with yourself. If you really want to play on a championship team or work with a high-performance club, you can’t afford to be an ordinary performer – and you can’t leave it all up to the leader. Teams that achieve very special results do so because their members are doing very special things. You and your teammates must take personal responsibility for overall team performance.

The reality is this – You do have a choice. You and your teammates can choose to work the magic that moves your group beyond mediocrity and makes it a winner. A team can’t function well unless the members individually function well, and the performance of each person acts as a catalyst to the others. It goes back to the old cliche about the whole being more than the sum of the parts.

In this session today, we’ll highlight some principles of teamwork that will help your club function more efficiently and enhance the productivity of your club meetings.

Group Activity: Plan Your Dream Team

Divide into groups with 5 or 6 people in each group.
Give each group a sheet of poster paper and colored markers.
Instruct each group to plan their Dream Team. They may choose to create stick figure images to illustrate the players on this winning team. Who would be on this team? What are the characteristics of these players that would make this a real dream team?
Allow a short time for group discussion and illustration.
Allow time for each group to report and explain their Dream Team to the entire group.
Display the Dream Team diagrams if space permits.

Steps to Building A Winning Team

The body of this presentation was designed to be presented by a two-person team. Leader #1 explains each principle of teamwork using broad, general terms that would be applicable to many situations. Leader #2 illustrates each principle of teamwork with Npecific examples that make it particularly applicable to the EH Club program.

1. Push for High-Quality Communication

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Breathes life into the team.

*It is a "make" or "break" issue.

*Each person is a quality control point in communication process.

* Communication is very important in each EH Club.

* Keep everyone informed. Investigate having calling committees.

* Officers must communicate with membership.

OK, Does Everyone Have the Play – (throw ball)

2. Bring Talent to the Team

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Be good at what you do.

*Polish your skills.

*Master your job.

*Stretch yourself.

*Be a good member, a good officer or a good education chair.

*Be committed to the organization and continue to learn new skills.

Are You Pepped Up and Ready to Go? – (throw ball)

3. Play Your Position

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Know what is expected of you.

– duties

– level of performance

– deadlines

*Do what is expected of you.

*Know and understand the roles and responsibilities of your office.

*Show VOLUNTEERS ON THE MOVE, if appropriate. This can be used as a officer training outline or an officer/member handbook.

Do Your Team Members Know Their Role? – (throw ball)

4. Turn Diversity to the Team’s Advantage

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Differences add depth.

*Respect each person for their differences.

*Respect each member for their unique talents.

*Strengthen your club by capitalizing on each member’s strengths and abilities.

Are All Positions Covered? – (throw ball)

5. Back Up Others Who Need Help

Leader #1

Leader #2

*See the big picture – think "team."

*Pay attention to other positions.

*Broaden your skills.

*Have a helpful attitude.

*Know not only your responsibilities, but those associated with other positions. Assist, back up, and be ready to play.

Do You Have Good Backup Players? – (throw ball)

6. Practice

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Drill.

*Rehearse.

*Run through the plays.

*President and officers should practice order of business.

*Lesson leaders should practice presentation.

Hup, Two, Three, and Throw!

7. Be Prepared to Sacrifice for the Team

Leader #1

Leader #2

Me vs. We

*Personal sacrifice is part of the price you pay for membership in the group – for team support when you need it – and, most importantly, for the trust of your teammates.

MEMBERSHIP

Are you an active member
   The kind who would be missed?
Or are you just contented
   That your name is on the list?
Do you attend the meetings
   And mingle with the crowd?
Or do you stay at home
   And complain both long and loud?
There is a good program scheduled
   That means success, if done,
And it can be accomplished
   With the help of everyone.
So come to the meetings often
   And help with hand and heart.
Don’t be just a member,
   Take an active part
So turn off that TV,
   Get out there and see
Just what you can be
   By getting involved in EHC.
Think this over, member,
   You know right from wrong,
Are you an active member
   Or do you just belong?

Go, EHC! – (throw ball)

8. Help New Teammates Make Entry

Leader #1

Leader #2

*When a newcomer fails, it is often because the team failed the person.

*Provide training and a mentor to new members.

*Learn new members’ strengths and weaknesses and how each can benefit the team.

Are You A Team Player? – (throw ball)

9. Play Down Yourself and Build Up Others

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Be a cheerleader.

*Building up others reflects well on you.

*Members and/or officers should:
– Showcase others.
– Celebrate successes of others.
– Give credit to team members for team success.

Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits, A Dollar, All for EHC – Stand Up and Holler! – (throw ball)

10. Spend Time With Your Teammates

Leader #1

Leader #2

*It takes togetherness for the group to become a true team.

*Get to know other members as people.

*Allow time for social interaction.

Does Your Team Have a Fifth Quarter? Do You Socialize? – (throw ball)

11. Help Drive Discipline Into the Group

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Be accountable.

*Stick to it.

*Crack your own whip.

*Foster trust and integrity.

*Each member should:

– Play their position and respect the team. (Don’t talk during business meetings, always follow through with assignments, etc.)

Go, Team, Go! – (throw ball)

12. Make Sure You Make a Difference

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Do what counts.

*Make the commitment.

*Attitude is everything all of the time.

*Make sure your club is focused on doing important things.

*Make your list and prioritize.

*Follow through.

Go for the Extra Point! – (throw ball)

13. Give Attention to Group Process

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Monitor team effectiveness.

* Process problems as a group while problems are small.

*Practice good parliamentary procedure. (Show handout.)

*Every meeting should have a well-planned agenda that is followed.

Do You Know the Game Plan? – (throw ball)

14. Help Create a Climate of Trust

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Keep your word.

*Honor commitments.

*Play fair.

*Build up others.

*Trust is built slowly over time.

*Trust can be destroyed quickly.

*If the group has a strong sense of trust, it can accomplish amazing things.

Do You Have the Spirit? – (throw ball)

15. Strengthen the Leader Through Good Followership

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Think for yourself.

*Commit yourself to the common goal.

*Strengthen the leader.

*A good leader is also a good follower.

*Be willing to assume either role, as needed.

Are You a Leader or a Follower? – (throw ball)

16. Be a Good Sport

Leader #1

Leader #2

*Promote harmony.

*Respect others.

*Be able to say, "I’m sorry."

*Show grace.

*Your character and your attitude are constantly on display. Teammates pay attention to how you handle yourself. Make sure they don’t charge you with unsportsman-like conduct.

Make Sure You Don’t Get A Personal Foul. – (throw ball)

Conclusion

Another group that demonstrates outstanding teamwork is a flock of geese in flight. Listen to this lesson from the geese and learn from it.

Mabel Sanders, Howard County EHC President
Jean Ince, County Extension Agent - Staff Chair, Howard County
Carla Haley, County Extension Agent - Family and Community Sciences, Miller County
Presented at Quad County Leadership Conference
October 26, 1999

Back to 2001 Leader Training Guide

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2001 Volunteer Leader Training Guide How EHC Members Can Build A Winning Team Touchdown

OK, Does Everyone Have the Play – (throw ball)

Are You Pepped Up and Ready to Go? – (throw ball)

Do Your Team Members Know Their Role? – (throw ball)

Are All Positions Covered? – (throw ball)

Do You Have Good Backup Players? – (throw ball)

Hup, Two, Three, and Throw!

Go, EHC! – (throw ball)

Are You A Team Player? – (throw ball)

Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits, A Dollar, All for EHC – Stand Up and Holler! – (throw ball)

Does Your Team Have a Fifth Quarter? Do You Socialize? – (throw ball)

Go, Team, Go! – (throw ball)

Go for the Extra Point! – (throw ball)

Do You Know the Game Plan? – (throw ball)

Do You Have the Spirit? – (throw ball)

Are You a Leader or a Follower? – (throw ball)

Make Sure You Don’t Get A Personal Foul. – (throw ball)

2001 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
How EHC Members Can Build A Winning Team
Touchdown