Lakisha Archie
May 17, 2015
Mang. Project Teams

For Union Railroad to achieve better measurement of performance, monitoring, and motivational aspects within their team environment, they must first understand how the six key team behaviors effect the project team. The six team behaviors are: mutual trust, interdependency, accountability, valuing individual differences, transparency, learning and recognition. Each team behavior works together to help the project team reach their desired goal and gain the best performance from the team. When used properly they help to enhance the team and maximize performance.
Mutual trust is an important aspect to team building and motivating the team. Each member of the team needs to understand their role on the team, while also accepting other member’s strengths’ and weaknesses. They must feel comfortable expressing how they feel about one another’s actions and decision making. When a majority of the team members feel comfortable with each other they will continuously work hard for each other. They feel safe to speak up without criticism and judgement.
Interdependency is essential in order to have an effective team that works together. All team members must understand that they are all working toward the same goal. Any ideas are ideas of the team and not any one individual. The team takes ownership of everything that is presented and no person accolades are expected. There is mutual trust among the team members and they remain loyal to one another.
All members within a group should be held accountability as an individual and as a group. All members must take responsibility for their individual contribution to the team, but they should also take responsibility for what each other team member contributes. Each member has the responsibility to encourage and help out each member if it is needed. The entire team works to make corrections and solves problems regardless of the individual that made the mistake. The team also recognizes the contributions of each individual and gives him/her credit when it is due. The team also celebrates the great work together.
Valuing individual differences is important to get each member set aside cultural differences and work together. Taking time to get to know the thoughts of each member is important. Getting each member to come together on pertinent issues and decisions will get everyone involved. By allowing the members to come together on decision making, they get to know each other, which helps to trust. While getting feedback from each individual it should be noted that there are several different ways to get the job done.
Transparency requires each member to speak openly and candidly about their intentions and feelings. Speaking openly shows confidence and trust. Members should be encouraged to express themselves and not worry about backlash from other team members. When one member speaks up it could motivate other members that might not otherwise feel comfortable to speak. Members that speak up helps the team because it may solicit feelings from other members that may fear causing conflict. Mutual trust is built when the team practices transparency.
Learning and recognition is essential to the success of the team. The team needs to learn together in order for the team to succeed. The team may learn in many different ways while learning to work together. During that time it is important to recognize the different leaning style of each individual. Knowing what style each individual prefer will help to determine what is needed to ensure each member understands what is going on. Recognizing and making changes when new information is presented is important to the success of the team. Learning from mistakes is the key because the information learned can be used to make better decisions and conclusions. Getting feedback from team members will help the team use that information to make changes that will better the team.
If Union Railroad require the project team to have a team meeting twice a week, it will help build mutual trust among the members. During those meetings each member should use transparency to measure the performance of the team. The team will also learn the roles and responsibilities of the team as well as each individual. Interdependency allows the team to remain loyal and gain mutual trust. Each member should be asked to participate in the decision making process so their individual differences will be valued. Members should be recognized and reward for their efforts to help encourage accountability. It should be stated that accountability is also not just for individuals on the team, but the team as a whole. Notes should be taken of the feedback received in order to recognize and learn from mistakes. If all these things are done Union Railroad should be able to bring out the positive traits of their team structure.