Introduction: Your Team’s Superpower
Welcome to a crucial lesson that will help your team work together more effectively. A winning idea is only half the battle; the other half is a winning team. This lesson will show you how to use teamwork and communication as your secret weapons to handle any challenge.
Think of your team like a well-oiled machine. If the parts don’t communicate and move together smoothly, the machine breaks down. This guide will help you build trust, resolve conflicts, and make every member feel valued.
Part 1: The Art of Active Listening
Talking is easy, but truly listening is a skill. Active listening means giving your full attention to your teammate, understanding their perspective, and showing that you care. It’s the foundation of all good communication.
Team Roles & Responsibilities
In every successful ICT club project, each member has a clear role to play.
- The Project Manager is like the team captain – making sure everyone knows what to do and keeping the project on schedule.
- Coders or Developers are the technical builders who write the code for our app, game, website, or system.
- Designers make sure our project is attractive, user-friendly, and visually consistent.
- Content Creators prepare the words, videos, or multimedia content that tell our project’s story.
- Researchers investigate the problem, study our audience, and test our solutions before we commit to them.
- Presenters are the confident voices who speak for the team during the competition, explaining our idea clearly to the judges.
- Testers go through the final product to find and fix any errors or bugs before we submit.
And teachers – your role is to guide, mentor, and support the learners while letting them take ownership of the project.
How to Practice Active Listening
When a teammate is speaking, use this simple table to check if you’re truly listening. It will help you move from simply hearing words to understanding ideas.
Example: Active vs. Passive Listening
| Passive Listening | Active Listening |
|---|---|
| Looking at your phone while they talk. | Making eye contact and nodding. |
| Waiting for your turn to speak. | Repeating what they said to confirm you understood: “So you’re saying…?” |
| Interrupting them with your own idea. | Asking clarifying questions like: “What do you mean by that?” or “Can you tell me more?” |
Activity 1: Communication Scenario Challenge
Read each scenario carefully and choose the best response that demonstrates good communication skills.
Hint: The best answer builds teamwork and solves the problem together.
Part 2: Navigating Conflict
Conflict is a normal part of working in a team. It’s not about avoiding disagreements, but about how you handle them. A healthy team uses conflict to find the best possible solution, not to assign blame.
Using “I” Statements
When a problem comes up, try to use “I” statements instead of “You” statements. This focuses on your feelings and needs, rather than attacking the other person.
The “I” Statement Formula
“I feel [YOUR EMOTION] when [ACTION HAPPENS] because [YOUR REASON].”
Example: “I feel frustrated when the schedule isn’t followed because I’m worried we won’t finish the project on time.”
Activity 2: Responding to Conflict
Based on the conflict resolution strategies we discussed, drag the team responses into the correct zone. This will train you to respond constructively when problems arise.
Hint: Focus on what helps the team move forward, not what assigns blame.
Team Responses
Response Zones
Constructive Responses
Destructive Responses
Your Mission
You now have the tools to build a stronger team. The next time a disagreement happens, remember to use “I” statements and focus on finding a solution. A united team is an unstoppable team.
