Teamwork Skills

SUCCEEDING IN LIFE

Objectives - Students will be able to:

• Define teamwork.
• Identify key teamwork skills.
• Explain why teamwork skills are important.
• Describe key team barriers.
• Explain how teammates can motivate others.
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 Teamwork Skills
SUCCEEDING IN LIFE

What is teamwork? Teamwork is when a group

of people work together. The better a team
works together, the more likely they will win.
For a team to be able to work together, each
team member needs to have strong teamwork
skills. Teams often lose because team members
don’t get along. Poor teamwork skills can lead to
failure. If you want to be a great team player,
you need to have strong teamwork skills.

1. What does teamwork mean? grgroup www.fotosearch.com

Fill in the blanks with the best word from the right-side. Failure
2. Teams that can work well together are more likely to Teamwork
_________________.
Win
3. For a team to be able to work together, it requires that each team
member have strong __________________ skills.
4. Poor teamwork skills can lead to _______________.

What are examples of teamwork skills? After reading the examples on the
There are many important teamwork left, fill-in blanks below.
5. Communication means that are
skills. Five important teamwork skills are:
sharing information and ____________
Communicating = sharing information and with each other.
ideas with each other.
6. It is important that teammates are
Listening = a willingness to hear what your
willing to ________________ what their
teammates have to say. teammate have to say.
Participating = helping and supporting your
teammates. 7. When you participate in a team,
Motivating = encouraging and inspiring your you are ________________ and
________________ your teammates.
teammates.
Being reliable = teammates can depend on 8. Being reliable means your
you. teammates can _____________ on you.
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Why are teamwork skills important? Teamwork skills are needed for you to
succeed in life. Good teamwork skills are required while in school, when playing
sports, when participating in clubs, and at work. Teachers expect that students
work together on projects. Projects are often graded based on teamwork skills. In
sports, your team only wins when everyone works together. In the workplace, a
boss expects all employees to be team players. A company is like one big team. The
success of a company depends on everyone working together. When employees
work well together, the company succeeds. Hence, bosses like hiring people with
strong teamwork skills. Employees that can’t work as a team are often fired.

1. What skills are needed to succeed in life?

2. Good teamwork skills are required in school, sports, clubs, and at
__________________.
3. A company is like one big __________________.
True or False
4._____________ Bosses prefer to hire people with poor teamwork skills.
5._____________ Employees that can’t work as a team are often fired.

trueffelpix
What are team barriers? Building a winning team can be
difficult when team barriers exist. Barriers are those 6. List four team barriers
things that prevent teams from working well together. that can cause teams to
fail:
Barriers cause teams to fail. Poor leadership that guides a A._____________________
team is a barrier. Poor communication among team
members is also a barrier. Another barrier is when there B._____________________
is a lack of a clear goal or strategy. This results in C._____________________
confusion for the team. And lastly, bad attitudes of team
members are barriers. Bad attitudes hurt the team. This D._____________________

lowers morale and makes a team unmotivated.

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How can you learn to be a team player? You
can become a team player by learning teamwork
skills. So, when working with a team, be sure to
look for ways to participate. Make sure that you
assist the team. Be sure not to allow only one or
only a few team members to do all the work.
Also, make sure that you communicate with your
other teammates. Talk to the other team
members and share your ideas. Additionally,
listen to your teammates and hear what they
have to say. Respect your teammates’ ideas.
Next, motivate your teammates. This means you
need to have a positive attitude. Be positive
about the project and your team. Provide words
of encouragement. Inspire teammates to do well.
Lastly, be reliable. Don’t let your teammates
down. Be present and ready to assist when they
need you.

grgroup

1. How can you learn to be a team player?

Fill in the blanks with the best word from the right-side. Motivate
2. When working with a team, look for ways to ___________________. Communicate
Participate
3. When working with a team, you need to ___________________ and Share
___________________ your ideas.

4. When working with team, you need to ___________________ your

teammates with words of encouragement.
True or false
5. _____________ You should stand around doing nothing when working
as team.
6. _____________ You should listen to your teammates.
7._____________ You should be reliable and not let your teammates
down.

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 CHART
Teamwork Tips Name____________________

Per._____ Date:___________

Share ideas. Refuse to participate.

Have a bad attitude. Be positive.
Motivate others. Use words of encouragement.
Do nothing. Having a clear goal and strategy.
Use put downs or make fun of others. Be mean.
Be unreliable. Listen and hear,

Directions: Complete the chart below by writing the phrases from above on
the correct side of the teamwork tips. See example below.

Teamwork Tips
Team Do’s Team Don’ts
-Participate. -Refuse to participate.
-Be reliable. -Ignore teammates.
-Have a strong leader. -Allow one or a few teammates to do all of the
work.

1. From the chart above, list four tips that you feel are most important for building a strong
team.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.Which tip or teamwork skill do you believe you need to improve upon?

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 Motivation
How To Motivate Your Teammates

Motivating your teammates is important for creating a successful team. You

can motivate teammates by having a good attitude. When you are positive and
in a good mood, your teammates will notice. Your positive attitude and good
mood will inspire them. It will help them to also have a good attitude, work
harder, and work together.

Smiling is one way to show a good attitude and to motivate others. Another
way to motivate others is to use words of encouragement. A few kind or
inspiring words can be very powerful. When we hear words of encouragement,
we want to help more, do better, and work harder. Some words of
encouragement that you can use are:
• Good job • Great • Outstanding
• Terrific • You’re capable • Keep on trying
• Good thinking • Good try • You are on the right track
• Great idea • Well done • Nice going
• Keep going • You’re the best • Don’t give up
• You can do it • Much • Thanks for your help
appreciated

Fill in the blanks with the best word from the right-side.
1. You can motivate your teammates by having a good Powerful
_____________________. Smiling
Attitude
2. A good attitude will ______________________ your teammates.
Motivate
3. ______________________ is one way to show a good attitude and to
motivate others.
3. A few kind words can be very ______________________in motivating
teammates.
4. List four different words of encouragement you would consider
using when working with a team:

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 SCENARIOS

Motive Your Teammates

Name____________________
Directions: For each scenario, use two examples of words of Per._____ Date:___________
encouragement that might help motivate a teammate.

1) Your teammate shares a helpful idea with the team. What could
you say to your teammate?
A.

B.

2) Your teammate obtains

helpful materials for the
project. What could you
say to your teammate?

A.

B.

3) Your team is called to answer a question. Your teammate provides

the wrong answer. What could you say to your teammate?
A.

B.

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4) Your team is in a competition with the other teams. Your team
watches on as one of your teammates appears to be losing against
another team’s player. What could you say to your teammate?
A.

B.

5) Your teammate completes her part of the project. She shares it

with the team. What could you say to your teammate?
A.

B.

6) Your teammate does not want to participate. He feels the project

is too difficult. What could you say to your teammate?
A.

B.

2.

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 Teamwork Name____________________

Per._____ Date:___________
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Directions: Read each scenario and determine what went
wrong among the team.

1) Kelly is on team two. He dislikes working with others. His teammates

ignore Kelly. They do all the work and Kelly does nothing.
a. What should Kelly have done to be a good team player?

b. What should Kelly’s teammates do regarding Kelly’s behavior?

2) Spinderella is on team one. Team one decided to meet during lunch to

work on their project. Spinderella shows up late and doesn’t bring her
material for the project.
a. What did Spinderella do that harmed the team?

3. Team four is working on an art project. The team leader sees one of
her team members doing the assigned task wrong. She tries to explain to
Karl what he needs to do to fix the problem. Karl just says, “I got it. I
know what I am doing.”
a. What is Karl doing that is harmful to the success of the
team?

4. Within team three, no one appears to be in charge. Most of the team

members are not working. They keep saying that they believe that the
project is lame. Instead, they are spending their time socializing about
their plans for the weekend.
a. What are two things that went wrong with this team?

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 Tips
Name____________________
Creating a Winning Team
Per._____ Date:___________
When you are assigned to a team, there are steps you and your teammates can
take to help your team be successful, as follows:
1. Make sure everyone understands the directions and the goal.
2. Select and agree on a leader.
3. Assign tasks to each teammate.
4. Collect all necessary materials.
5. Show a good attitude.

Directions: Read the scenario below and answer the questions.

1) The history teacher creates small groups in the class. Each group is supposed
to complete the project together. The teacher assigns four students per team.
Carmen is eager to complete the assignment. As soon as the teacher hands out
the directions for the project, Carmen starts the project. Meanwhile,
Carmen’s three teammates are still reading the directions.
a) What did Carmen do that harmed the team?

b) What should have Carmen waited for?

c) What are the first steps the team should have taken before starting the
project?

2. The science teacher creates small teams in the class. Each team was to
complete a project together. Four students were placed in each team. The teacher
explained the directions to the class. Team one formed their group and discussed
the directions. This team had a clear understanding of what needed to be done.
But, two of the team members decided they would do all of the work.
a) What should the team have done after everyone understood the directions?

b) What mistake did two of the team members make?

c) What should the team have done after selecting a leader?

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 Word Search
Teamwork Skills Name____________________

Per._____ Date:___________

T M H U C C S M R E E L A
E G O K B Y G E G T L N T
A H X T S R L M A A W M W
M S A P I I U C D P T G Z
W E W K A V I K Q I P Z S
O X H B U N A Z H C Y Q L
R E L P U C U T Y I Y B C
K E R M C A L L E T Q W N
N B M C E N C O U R A G E
P O N E T S I L F A V V O
C I L O T U J E B P T B W
C N F A B P J P L N R T Y

COMMUNICATE ENCOURAGE LISTEN

MOTIVATE PARTICIPATE RELIABLE
TEAMWORK

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 Crossword
Teamwork Skills
Name____________________

Per._____ Date:___________

Across
1. to share ideas and thoughts and to send a message.
4. when you can count on a person to be there and participate.
6. working together as a group to get something done.
7. to help-out or to contribute.
Down
2. to inspire or encourage a person to do something
3. to hear what another person is saying.
5. to inspire and to motive others.
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 TEST
Teamwork Skills
Name______________________

Select the best answer. Per._______ Date:____________

1. For a team to be able to work well 5. Bosses like hiring people with
together, each team member needs a. no teamwork skills.
to b. strong teamwork skills.
a. be best friends. c. weak teamwork skills.
b. have talent.
c. have strong teamwork skills. 6. When working with a team you
should
2. Which are important teamwork a. look for ways participate.
skills? b. take control.
a. Communication and listening. c. not help out.
b. Participation and being reliable .
c. All of the above. 7. What are team barriers?
a. Things that help the team work
3. Strong teamwork skills are well together.
important b. Good leadership and having a
a. in school. goal.
b. at work. c. Things that prevent teams
c. All of the above. from working well together.

4. When everyone works together 8. What are examples of team

as a team, the company barriers?
a. fails. a. Poor communication and
b. succeeds. leadership.
c. fire everyone. b. No clear goal and bad attitudes.
c. All of the above.

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True or False
9) _________ Teams often lose because team members don’t get
along.

10) _________ Employees that can’t work as a team are often fired.

11) _________ When working with a team, you don’t need to listen.

12) _________In a team, you shouldn’t stand around doing nothing.

13) _________ In a team, you should always allow one or few persons
to do all the work.

14) _________ You can motivate teammates by having a good attitude

and using words of encouragement.

15) List four different phrases or words of encouragement

you could use to help motivate a teammate:
1._______________________________

2._______________________________

3._______________________________

4._______________________________

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 Motivating Communicating
Participating Listening
Teamwork Reliable
Encourage

16. ________________ is working together as group to

get something done.

17 ________________ is sharing ideas and thoughts.

18. ________________ is hearing what another person
is saying.
19. Being ________________ is when you can count on
person to be there and do something.
20. ________________ is inspiring or encouraging a
person to do something
21.________________ is to help or to contribute.
22. ________________ is to inspire and motivate
others.
23.) List four important teamwork skills:
1.
2.
3.
4.

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Sources: Clipart Purchased
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(c) grgroup www.fotosearch.com Stock Photography
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