Week #15 Teamwork

 Aloha fellow 279 classmates,

This week the pue’o ladies had the role of “breathless in Pearl City”.  A person who plays this role is someone who usually will call for help at the first sign of an issue.  This type of person tends to overreact to any different of lack of response by their team member.  This student often serves as an “early warning system” to the instructor of any problems the group may be having.  These student’s actions can lead to as escalation of conflict.  

The top three strategies that we came up with are:

1. Communication – The group members need to present clear instructions that everyone understands so there is no confusion.  The group members should have an open communication whether it is exchanging phone numbers or email address, so that everyone can be on the same page.  The group members should communicate clearly about the responsibilities and roles each member plays so that we can all be accountable for our actions.  If a conflict arises, group member should listen to the concerns, and work it out and not take anything to heart.  The group should find a solution that they all can agree with and just move on.

2. Encouragement/Being Positive – When an overreaction or negative comment arise, the group should be proactive and be positive, and instead say words of encouragement! When the chips are down, team members need to help each other.  Maybe it is to lend an ear or maybe they are in a rut or stuck somehow.  Say a nice word that could change a person's outlook in life.  

3. Understanding/Respecting – Every group member should have respect for each other and respect each member’s ideas and thoughts.  Every member should also understand where each person is coming from and we’re all not exactly the same, so we all may not complete things the same way.  We always need to keep in mind, that we all see things differently, and “Breathless in Pearl City” needs to see where his or her members are coming from or what they’re trying to say, and vice versa. The group members should understand that everyone has problems and hardship.  No ones life is perfect. Things will happen good or bad.  We need to help each other out.  

These are the top three strategies we would encourage “Breathless in Pearl City” to remember when working in a group.  Working in a group is never easy, and does take a lot of work, but if all members come together, set their differences aside, and work at the tasks at hand, it will get done!