BLT Manual

3 Effective Teaming Practices

Building Leadership Teams play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of a school, impacting student outcomes, and fostering a culture of excellence. In order to make change, a BLT must function like a well oiled machine, where educators’ limited time is used wisely by following designated protocols as listed below: Develop Shared Norms Team norms describe the guidelines or rules that team members follow while interacting with each other. Two types of norms should be developed: procedural and behavioral norms. Procedural norms determine how the team will conduct business (i.e., starting and ending on time, cellphone/computers off during meetings, etc.). Behavioral norms determine how team members will show up and interact with each other (i.e., actively participate, be solution-focused, listen to other viewpoints, assume positive intent). Clearly Define Roles & Responsibilities Defining group roles and responsibilities is crucial for fostering effective teamwork and achieving common goals. When individuals within a group understand their specific roles and what is expected of them, it enhances clarity and accountability. This clarity helps prevent confusion and conflicts, as everyone knows their area of expertise and how they contribute to the overall objectives. Implement Effective Communication Routines Teams should have an internal process for communicating with all stakeholders to ensure transparency. An organizational chart showing which stakeholder groups are represented by each BLT member can be a helpful way to ensure that stakeholders know who to give feedback to. BLT agendas should be distributed prior to the meeting with enough time for the BLT members to solicit feedback from their stakeholder groups about specific topics. Detailed meeting minutes should also be distributed to all stakeholders. Assigning team member(s) to complete these tasks helps ensure communication is consistent and timely. Team meetings are for effective problem solving, not for problem admiration. Time is the most frequently voiced concern about team meetings, so ensuring a purposeful agenda with built-in time constraints ensures that time norms are followed and that the meeting is productive. It should be noted that meeting agendas may look different depending on the purpose of the meeting. Use Purposeful Agendas Teams leverage consensus building to harness the expertise and perspectives of team members. By fostering open communication, active listening, and mutual respect, teams can have meaningful discussions where all stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute ideas, share concerns, and explore potential solutions. Through this inclusive approach, decisions are reached collaboratively, enhancing ownership, commitment, and alignment among team members. Consensus Building Teams in schools employ a protocol in order to manage conflict resolution where they prioritize open communication, empathy, and collaboration. When conflicts arise, these teams facilitate constructive dialogue, allowing all parties to express their perspectives and concerns in a safe and respectful environment. Through conflict resolution, they work towards finding mutually beneficial solutions that address the underlying issues and promote reconciliation. Resolve Conflicts Reflection is an important part of the long-term functioning of an effective team. Continuous improvement should be applied to team functioning as well as student performance. Without periodic review, team members can become frustrated or dissatisfied with the team. Routinely asking “what went well?” and “how could things be improved?” are simple examples that could yield constructive and actionable feedback. Teams should also routinely refer to the BLT Practice Profile to determine if the “gold standard” for BLT teams is being met. Periodically Evaluate Team