What does teamwork look like? What does teamwork mean? How does a staff become a team?

Teachers and staff at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School explored similar questions by participating in challenging activities coordinated by the YMCA TEAM Works Program. The program focuses on five areas: effective communication, problem-solving, consensus decision- making, setting goals and trust.

Willicia Hobbs, principal, invited TEAM Works to try something different with the staff.

“TEAM Works activities are designed to strengthen and inspire teams to take on challenges together. The activities will help my teachers think creatively, improve communications, practice creating and implementing plans, re-evaluate and improve planning, work on being more flexible and practice shared leadership,” Hobbs said.

A week before students returned to school, the staff spent half a day learning about themselves and each other through discussions and physical activity. Groups worked together in the gym, the library and the cafeteria. Stations with cones, hula hoops, ropes, balance beams and balls were set up in each area.

In the gym, a group of staff members worked through an activity that eventually linked everyone arm-in-arm in a circle by shared interests spoken aloud.

“My name is Carrie and I’m expecting a girl,” a woman said before a colleague linked his arm with hers and said, “I’m Derrick and I have two daughters.”

The circle grew with each introduction.

“I’m Andrew, I like to travel and I’m a Cardinals fan,” was followed by “I’m Lauren and I like the Cardinals. This summer, I drove the Pacific Coast Highway.”

The circle closed when everyone was linked arm-in-arm.

In the cafeteria, the activity involved circles of masking tape perched on noses. The purpose was to connect each circle of tape without using hands and celebrating each successful connection.

“Be positive and cheer each other on through this exercise,” a YMCA leader said.

The group cheered and shouted as the tape chain grew.

“Be positive, get behind everyone and cheer each other on throughout the year,” the leader continued. “Celebrating is good!”

In the library, YMCA leaders held a dark tarp the size of a bed sheet between two groups. As one person from each side approached the tarp, it was dropped and they had to call out the name of the person before them as quickly as possible. The activity helps people get to know each other and recognize fellow staff.

“I wanted to provide a professional development experience that will help my staff become stronger and more cohesive as a team. Along with learning how to improve our efforts as team members, we discussed doing a better job with modeling our Knights Code of being respectful, being responsible, being there and ready, and being kind,” said Hobbs.

Larry Jeude, TEAM Works Program Director for St. Louis, explained the overall goal of the challenges.

“We are trying to get staff to function as a better staff and improve the effectiveness of group dynamics,” said Jeude.

He explained that effective communication, problem-solving, consensus decision- making and setting goals are skills that can be taught, but trust is “something you build or something you destroy.”

Hobbs said the staff enjoyed being involved in fun, interactive challenges.

“The experience allowed us to laugh as we learned. All of the teams worked on different challenges, which mirrors the reality of the work we do at school,” she said.

“The feedback given to me was all positive,” Hobbs continued. “I heard statements such as ‘This was a great way to have us look at ourselves,’ ‘The group discussions were as good as the activities,’ ‘I was challenged to think about my students’ feelings,’ and ‘As a new teacher to Northwest, I feel encouraged.’”