True Colors for Teamwork Educators

Everywhere we look there are calls for us as co-educators in Higher Education to develop stronger team members. Take a look at these examples and consider how our True Colors background is a resource to help us in this important area.

• The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Core Curriculum includes teamwork as one of six elements: “the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal”
• The National Association of Colleges and Employers highlights teamwork as one of the seven most employer-identified workplace competencies for career readiness: Building collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure, and can negotiate and manage conflict.”
• American Association of Colleges and Universities VALUE Rubrics include one dedicated to Teamwork, defining it as: behaviors under the control of individual team members (effort they put into team tasks, their manner of interacting with others on team, and the quantity and quality of contributions they make to team discussions.

True Colors is a valuable resource for how it allows us to better perceive, appreciate and work effectively with differences in one another’s perspectives, strengths and temperaments. True Colors enables us to enhance cohesiveness, motivation and trust. How does knowing your own true colors and those of your fellow staff members help your team? How does speaking the language of True Colors help you develop students to be better at teamwork?

It may be helpful to recall the reflection questions on this “Who I am as a team member” worksheet:

Who Am I as a _________________ Team Member?

1. What are my strengths as a __________ team member?
2. What are my weaknesses as a __________ team member?
3. What one thing do I need from the team in order to function effectively?
4. What kinds of tasks hold particular interest for me?
5. What do I especially appreciate in my fourth color?

Submitted by -
Eliot Howard
Associate Director, Student Leadership Development

Sources

National Association of Colleges and Employers - Career Readiness Defined, http://www.naceweb.org/knowledge/career-readiness-competencies.aspx

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - Elements of the Texas Core Curriculum, http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=427FDE26-AF5D-F1A1-E6FDB62091E2A507

Association of American Colleges & Universities – Value Project Overview, https://www.aacu.org/value/rubrics/teamwork

Training Schedule, Student Affairs STAFF (SD 410) - Spring 2017  (Download PDF)

Training Schedule, Student Affairs STUDENT WORKERS (SD 417) - Spring 2017  (Download PDF)

Any questions or comments? Please send us an email at VPSA@utsa.edu.