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			MODULE 2 > Forming Teams 2.4 Team Roles The more structure that is provided to a student team the easier it is for the team to accomplish the task. Part of the basic structure is to assign roles to members of the team. If the project is of short duration, up to four weeks, the roles can be less defined but if the project is longer it is prudent to assign definite roles. Although roles can be maintained for the duration of the team project, it is educationally more beneficial for roles to rotate or change periodically. The basic roles are team leader, recorder, and other possible roles include timekeeper, weekly task organizer, oral presenter, editor for written reports. There may be additional roles, depending upon the nature of the team project, the size of the team and the way in which tasks are delineated. Here is a form that can be used on your site to allow each team to choose their roles. Choose your Team Roles Instructions: Decide which roles you wish the team to use. You can add or delete any roles you wish. Check which roles you want your team to choose: Team Leader Recorder Project Manager Time Keeper Weekly Task Organizer Oral Presenter Editor Head of Reporting Activities Team Member Name: Role Assigned by Team or Instructor: Team Member Name: Role Assigned by Team or Instructor: Team Member Name: Role Assigned by Team or Instructor: Team Member Name: Role Assigned by Team or Instructor: Team Member Name: Role Assigned by Team or Instructor: Please check the manner you wish the students to rotate their roles: Weekly Every Two Weeks Every Three Weeks Every Month At a Time of Your Choosing_____________________ TEAM LEADER When you are team leader, there are different tasks and techniques to use at different times during the team process. Uppermost is to make sure the team attends to both the task and the team process. The team leader has to commit extra time to manage the team effectively by performing a variety of tasks including: (1) organizing the team meetings, including planning the agenda and preparing any reports that may be assigned for each of the weekly meetings, (2) creating action plans and making sure the team timely follows through on these plans and (3) managing the everyday affairs of the team, including settling conflicts, handling team members’ frustrations, communicating effectively with the staff and faculty, and assigning tasks. The task process is controlled by two factors: the team life cycle stages and the project management plan. The tasks are stage dependent for the team and task process. When forming the team, the team leader must identify what skills each team member possesses and what skills are missing. Being Directive is important in the Formation Stage. For example, directing other members during meetings by creating agendas and using activity list to delineate tasks allows your team to function more autonomously. The team leader supports the team in functioning properly until each team member develops the necessary skills. If a team member does not possess the necessary skills, the team leader challenges and supports the team members until the needed skills are present. Under the guidance of the team leader, the team must carry out its mission, articulate and commit to goals and objectives, and create action plans. The formation stage is critical to high performance. Many teams have resistance to the team basics and want to move on to the task work immediately. A competent team leader avoids this narrowing of focus by simultaneously focusing on task process, team process, and performance standards, and by guiding the team into individual and mutual accountability. The organizational climate where the team is being formed can have an important effect upon the team. The team leader is responsible for defining and managing this effect for the team. Monitoring progress and ensuring that your action plans are completed is important to becoming high performing. The team leader assigns monitoring responsibilities to other team members so that the momentum is maintained and the team is ensured that they are focused on solutions to their problems and that each team member takes actions within their direct control. The team does not want to become bogged down with waiting for other members to change their behavior. Remember, as a team to always celebrate your progress, and agree to take new steps to ensure that you can enjoy the fulfillment that comes from achieving your objectives together. Click Here for a List of Team Roles During Each Stage of the Team Process or To Create Your Own: Formation Stage Criticism Stage Synthesis Stage Accomplishment Stage Completion Stage Create Your Own RECORDER When you are the recorder for the team use active listening to clarify the points that are being transcribed by you during the meetings. You are responsible for keeping the team Weekly Planner up to date. If there is not a separate timekeeper the recorder is also responsible for keeping the team on time during meetings. Click here to create your own Specific Duties for the Recorder TEAM MEMBERS Each team member is given specific goals to be accountable for during the semester. Here are some examples of specific areas that need to be assigned for monitoring are: Showing up and being on time for meetings. Monitoring action plans for developing the activities that will keep the task on course. Monitoring action plans for writing assignments, both individual and collaborative work. Recording and communicating progress to outside contacts. Checking with team members regarding their ability to keep their time commitments to the team’s goals if necessary helping to adapt the team’s action plans to the team member’s new time commitments. Click here to create your own Specific Duties for each Team Member