June/July 2001
Issue

Building a "high performance" chapter can often be easier said than done. Group work may seem easy or fun, but being an effective team player can be very difficult at times.

Leaders who do not learn essential teambuilding skills are often left with feelings of resentment due to work overload and participation absence. This resentment can later result in team breakdown and performance reduction.

This does not have to happen to your chapter! It is important that you become not only a team leader, but also a team player. Building a high performance chapter consists of each person doing his or her part for the team effort.

All high performance chapters have a few things in common. Take a look at these shared qualities that teambuilding chapters boast. By duplicating these characteristics, your chapter can become a teambuilding powerhouse!

Common Purpose:
A clear, common and compelling purpose is the cornerstone of every high performance chapter. The effectiveness of a chapter’s purpose can be judged by yielded results. Teambuilders realize that even yearly goals should reiterate the main objective or purpose of the chapter. As a result, projects and activities are created with a collective perspective.

Clear Roles:
High performance chapters clarify the strengths and skills of their individual team members. Members talented in writing or typing might help with the chapter’s Hallmark Award essays, or members skillful with computers might help with the chapter website. Effective teambuilders work to strengthen chapter members’ talents, not exploit them.

Strong Leadership:
In a high performance chapter, leadership is task-driven. Teambuilders attempt to bring out the leader in everyone. They believe in shared leadership that allows members to utilize their areas of expertise to accomplish specific chapter goals. Teambuilders do not simply delegate work to others, but mutually accept responsibility for tasks as well.

Solid Relationships:
A high performance chapter is a closely bound chapter. Teambuilders are not expected to agree with all the same ideas or share the same beliefs as chapter members. Instead, they use diversity as a resource by approaching problems, decisions and plans with an appreciation for the rich inventory of perspectives. This viewpoint maximizes individual member’s strengths, while minimizing chapter conflicts. As a result, strong relationships are built within the chapter.

Excellent Communication:
Communication is the key to a high performance chapter. Through communication, teambuilders coordinate different roles, provide feedback, clarify details, and resolve conflict. Teambuilders successfully promote and participate in the open exchange of ideas. Communication is not simply interaction between members of a chapter; but rather, effective listening, processing and reacting. Teambuilders listen with open minds without interrupting. As a result, they are approachable and communication lines remain open.

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