I/ Main guidelines for teamwork

Even the most collaborative teams need guidelines to ensure the smoothness of their work. The following points are our selected guiding principles to guarantee perfection of our final product:

1.  Each and everyone is an indispensible member of the team.
   
2. Our individual skills do not imply in any way than anyone’s contribution is more important than the others’.
   
3.   Despite our imperfections, fears, we always remember that we are here first and foremost to learn, to experience – to take a leap, every day, to step outside of our comfort zones. And we know that our teammates and friends are here to support us, challenge us, and will always have our back.
4. We will not take ourselves too seriously!
5.  We will share selflessly experience and reflection.
6.  We will engage in intense dialogue – where listening is more important than speaking.
7. We will provide honest and accurate feedback, not only for the good of the project – but in a sincere wish to help each one of us reach their potential, during the YLVP programme and beyond.
8.   Respect and mutual understanding are imperative.
9.    Lots of food will be had by the team members. Or rather those who don’t care about their weight.

II/ Methodology

A/ TEAMWORK

In order to ensure a fair and optimal division of tasks, we will be addressing work on three parallel levels:

§  Group tasks: The main directions of the project, as well as certain tasks will require the dedication of all, via active contribution and ‘brainstorming’ of the whole team.

§  Sub-group tasks: Some tasks will necessitate the creation of ad-hoc sub-groups according to the task at hand. Those are likely to be the larger tasks in which a certain level of technical skills is deemed necessary, and for which a 6-person committee is superfluous.

§  Individual tasks: Divided by interest and personal skills, individual tasks have the main advantage of allowing the accomplishment of multiple tasks in parallel. Their main drawback, of course, is the absence of the ‘sounding board’ function that other teammates provide in group tasks; those tasks will therefore need to be extensively discussed during the briefing sessions.

B/ DEADLINES

1.     As tasks are distributed, deadlines will be attached to them to allow for a more predictable workflow.
   

C/ BRIEFING SESSIONS

Integrating regular briefing and feedback sessions, twice a week, during which we shall:

a)      Constantly discuss the goals, end outcome of the project (and redesign, recalibrate the direction of the project when needed)

b)      Assess the progress – during which each team member will (if applicable) bring the others up to speed on what they’ve been working on, sharing their results and difficulties, etc.

c)       Conduct a feedback session such as the one conducted during the ‘teambuilding’ module [“I like that...” and “I’d like you to do more of...”]

D/ CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISM

1.   Conflict among the members of one team is not an unusual occurrence.
   
2.   In this event, the topic of the dispute, be it personal or professional, will be put to discussion during the very next briefing session.
3.  The purpose of the conflict resolution is NOT to identify a culprit or to point blame – quite on the contrary. The aim is to rebuild confidence and reestablish positive collaboration between the parties to the conflict.