The topic of today is ‘’team work’’.
Lekcje angielskiego przygotowuje firma 
Task 1
Read the text below to get the general idea:
A Japanese proverb says: None of us is as smart as all of us. It is true especially when we think of the concept of teamwork as such. Together Everyone Achieves More, as it might be paraphrased. It goes without saying, that together (in one team) we can gain more than individually. What counts here is known as „cooperative effort of all group members to achieve a common goal’’. In particular, the idea of teamwork is associated with business settings which value collaboration. In such environments people understand that, from decisions to actions, everything is based on the idea of togetherness, a mutual relationship between all employees, and evenly, but not equally, shared responsibility.
To be effective, the idea of team building should be first implemented in full and then exercised every single day of work. It is not enough, as some managers might mistakenly believe, to take a group of employees outdoors once a year for a couple of days and practice some team building activities, such as building a water pipeline or constructing a beer crate tower. To make teamwork happen in a company, a lot of actions need to be undertaken. These are just a few of them:
1. recognizing each individual’s ideas, strengths and weaknesses,
2. forming teams to solve real work issues or problems,
3. communicating tasks and expectations clearly,
4. encouraging trust and cooperation among employees,
5. evaluating performance and celebrating successes publicly.
Task 2.
Study the text carefully and use the underlined expressions to complete the sentences below:
1. Mr Jake Scott has kindly agreed to ……………………. a task of collecting information from all departments for our meeting next week.
2. The …………………….. of total patient care has been presented by the health committee.
3. …………………. respect and trust is necessary for any business partnership.
4. Very few state run schools are prepared to ………………….. recently proposed educational reforms and changes.
5. ‘’Third time lucky’’ is an example of a well known Polish ………………
6. It was warm enough to hold an informal meeting …………………… .
7. Picasso is believed to have ………………ed a considerable success and recognition as an outstanding painter.
8. Against all …………………… the company has managed to downsize and cut costs this year.
9. The first draft of an annual report has been …………………. sent to the Board.
10. The profits will be shared ………………… by the three owners of the company.
Task 3
Watch the video ‘’Effective teamwork ‘’ and answer the questions below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb4ETNwVE-E
1. What does effective teamwork require?
………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………….
2. What problems might be faced by many organizations?
………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………….
3. What should be defined before a team is formed?
…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..
4. What does the Team’s Constitution establish?
…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………..
5. What is the Future Forward method?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Force is with us! KEY TO EXERCISES
Task 2.
1. Mr Jake Scott has kindly agreed to …UNDERTAKE…. a task of collecting information from all departments for our meeting next week.
2. The …CONCEPT…….. of total patient care has been presented by the health committee.
3. …MUTUAL…. respect and trust is necessary for any business partnership.
4. Very few state run schools are prepared to …IMPLEMENT….. recently proposed educational reforms and changes.
5. ‘’Third time lucky’’ is an example of a well known Polish ………PROVERB……
6. It was warm enough to hold an informal meeting ……OUTDOORS… .
7. Picasso is believed to have …GAIN/ACHIEV……ed a considerable success and recognition as an outstanding painter.
8. Against all …EXPECTATIONS…… the company has managed to downsize and cut costs this year.
9. The first draft of an annual report has been ……MISTAKENLY…. sent to the Board.
10. The profits will be shared ……EVENLY/EQUALLY… by the three owners of the company.
Task 3
1. What does effective teamwork require? ……A positive, constructive approach from every member of a team.
2. What problems might be faced by many organizations? ……An unwillingness to change, a desire to keep doing in the same, old way.
3. What should be defined before a team is formed? ……The way everyone will work together.
4. What does the Team’s Constitution establish? ……The team’s operating principles, policies and ground rules.
5. What is the Future Forward method? ……It means that you imagine the future successes of the team and work backwards from there by asking/answering a set of questions.
Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
