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Ten Conditions That Support Team Problem Solving

October 10, 2001

"1. The team leader participates as a team member and is subject to the same rules.

2. Team decisions are not arbitrarily overruled by the leader simply because the leader does not agree with them.

3. Conflict arising from different points of view is though of as helpful and is resolved constructively by the team.

4. Team members challenge suggestions they believe are not founded on facts or logic, but they avoid arguing just to have their way.

5. Poor solutions or alternatives are not supported for the sake of peace and harmony.

6. Differences of opinion are explored and resolved; consensus is reached rather than voting on or avoiding the issues.

7.   Each member works to make the problem-solving process as effective as possible and tries to facilitate rather than hinder discussion.

8. Each team member understands the value of time and works to eliminate extraneous or repetitious discussions.

9. Team members encourage and support fellow team members who may be reticent to offer their ideas or suggestions.

10. The problem worked on by the team requires multiple viewpoints and technological collaboration (Woodring & Zigarmi, 1997, p. 135)."

Reference:  Woodring, S.F. & Zigarmi, D., (1997).  The team
leader's idea-a-day guide: 250 ways to make your team more
effective and productive every working day of the year. 
Chicago: The Dartnell Corporation.

* The Team Leader's Idea-A-Day Guide is available on loan at the OSU Leadership Center.  A listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/

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Created: 2009-01-02, Updated: 2009-01-14