TVR is complex work that works best when all staff work in harmony to achieve grant goals and serve participants effectively. This step provides suggestions about how to create and maintain effective and successful teams.

Teamwork Strategies Overview

Just as TVR counselors take a strengths-based approach to rehabilitation counseling with participants, teamwork uses a strengths-based approach to provide high-quality TVR services and to achieve agency performance goals.
Teamwork means that people will try to cooperate, using their individual skills and providing constructive feedback, despite any personal conflict between individuals.
A strong team addresses the need for on-going training of staff during routine staff meetings staff so that they are well prepared to perform their duties.
Directors may want to consider sharing TVR budget information with all staff so each person can understand their own financial obligations and spending authority within the budget. A director might also consider inviting finance office staff to come in and discuss the budget and program procurement with the team.
Team building can start small. Even little improvements made in how staff work with one another can be a step toward a more productive and harmonious workplace.
- A great place to start is to review grant goals and work together to create a vision for the future of the program.
One strategy to team building is to engage in organizational development activities, which is covered in the next step of this module.

Healthy Communication

In all relationships, disagreements are unavoidable and healthy communication and conflict resolution is imperative. It is through discussion around differing opinions that breakthroughs are often made, but negotiating the emotional element of disagreement is key! As a supervisor, the director must model effective communication and make sure that discussions remain as professional, productive, and respectful as possible.

There may be an approach to conflict resolution that is rooted in tribal or community culture that would be most appropriate for a particular agency. If not, here are some ideas that may be useful for ensuring healthy and beneficial communication:

Dedicating a neutral space for conflict resolution helps ensure professionalism and personal safety between individuals.
Making sure all individuals have the same opportunity to voice their thoughts, feelings and opinions.
Directing any criticism at an individual's behavior(s), not the individual.
Avoiding misunderstandings between individuals by having a mediator clarify points that were just made and then asking the other party(ies), “How do you feel about that?” or "What does that mean to you?"
Reminding staff that if the same points keep getting repeated, disagreeing is not the same as listening. At this point assertiveness training needs to kick in.
Offering to end the session for the time being if the disagreement is heated, and scheduling a later time to meet again.
Reminding staff that they are working toward the same goal and seeking to find the commonalities between their perspectives.

Qualities of Effective and Successful Teams

An effective team encourages all members to have a voice in decisions, which can be highly motivating and empowering for team members.
Common qualities of a successful team from theundercoverrecruiter.com are listed here.

Additional Points about Teamwork and Effective Teams

Effective teams are also flexible, adaptive, use their strengths, and delegate areas of weakness.
- Participants will likely respond better and feel more comfortable in an environment where the respect that comes with teamwork is evident.
Routinely set aside time to focus on building and maintaining the team a couple times per year and be sure to elicit, respond, utilize and build on ideas from staff.
- Encourage staff to take ownership of the program aspects or areas that interest them the most (e.g., focusing on transition students, implementing a new outreach strategy).
A unified team also cares for each other and looks out for one another. By investing time in building relationships and creating connections with all team members, other aspects of each individual's work will benefit.
- For example, stopping by with some soup for a staff member who is sick or having a congratulatory lunch for a staff person who graduates.
Be aware that everything deteriorates over time if neglected, including relationships, visions, and a team’s ability to work effectively. Setting aside dedicated time to growing and maintaining these aspects of the agency is essential.
Some questions to ask yourself and your team:
- Does your TVR agency have a shared vision for the future of the program?
- What are ways that you can show your teammates that you care for them?
- Is it possible for your team to take time out to focus on team building, like during a staff meeting or an all-day retreat?
- Remember: The more we know about a person, the more we establish a connection with that person. So take time to get to know and appreciate the unique qualities of your staff members.
For more teamwork strategies, please click here.