"When things are clicking and collaboration is at its best, synergy does occur, and the word ‘teamwork’ has real meaning." – Robert E. Lefton

Now that the academic year is nearly half over, many of your chapter members are busy with classes, work and other activities. So, how do you keep members interested in being a part of a winning team?

The chapter will obviously achieve better results through collaboration than by just a few people doing all of the work. According to Robert E. Lefton, interaction, or synergy, will provide your chapter with something extra – the insights, ideas, solutions and directions that result from working as a team. Lefton’s article, "The Eight Barriers to Teamwork," is published in Unit 6 of the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies text.

Although teamwork is a sound concept and can help your chapter reach its goals, groups often fail to synergize. Some organizations fail to establish a team mentality early on because of various barriers.

Any group that wants to produce that something extra should be aware of the roadblocks along the way.

Chapter leaders must know how to elicit information from potential team members. Take the time to discover your chapter members’ and officers’ strengths and weaknesses. Get to know each other.

When working on chapter projects, seek out information about what works and what doesn’t. Get to the core of the issue. "Complete and accurate information is indispensable for credible problem solving," states Lefton.

Promotional leaders tend to influence the views of other team members by expressing their own opinions before hearing what anyone else thinks. Team leaders who promote their own views often choke off discussion because no one wants to disagree with the leaders. Try to allow other officers and chapter members to express their opinions without trying to influence the discussion.

"As soon as private agendas displace the team’s goal, candor disappears, probing becomes a way to put other people on the defensive, debate becomes dissension, teamwork disappears and one-up-manship takes its place," explains Lefton.

Your group is more likely to function well as a unit if team members stay focused on the chapter’s goals, participate in open and honest discussions and tell it like it is.

Teams tend to limit themselves by exploring only a few options before making a decision. They do not take time to prepare, and many do not brainstorm for ideas.

A team that wants to make significant accomplishments should consider all the alternatives before deciding on one, recommends Lefton. "Taking action is fine, but it’s usually best to do so after deliberation." Think about where your chapter members and officers can best apply their talents.

Failing to provide full and accurate disclosure has been the downfall of many teams. According to Lefton, "People are most likely to generate fertile, productive ideas when they first have all the information they need or as much of it as they can get."

Avoid giving in to intra-team politics. Level with each other. Each person should avoid distorting the truth.

Lefton points out that a large number of meetings have no objective at all or only a vague goal. Phi Theta Kappans are busy people -- don’t waste time with unnecessary meetings, and do a thorough job of planning the necessary ones.

"Most teams fail to do regular, systematic critiques of themselves: their operations, strengths, weaknesses and areas needing improvement," says Lefton. Critique activities as you go. Set time aside and format an evaluation, so all team members can learn from each critique.

Many great ideas have failed because team leaders failed to cycle information downward. As your chapter officer team is making plans, explain your ideas to all the people who will be helping carry out the project.

Don’t let your great ideas fizzle because of lack of teamwork. Most projects are going to require the help of your chapter members -- don’t leave them out of the planning process. If chapter members feel well-informed, there is no limit to what they can accomplish.