[c]

Individuals are more likely to work effectively if they have a measure of control over how they organise and manage their contribution to the project.  Getting researchers to share their preferences with other team members and with the Research Team Leader may help to build trust and respect within the team.  

The following is a brief activity that could be run as part of a team meeting.  Where team members are based across different organisations or countries, this exercise could be conducted either by members meeting together at a mutually convenient time, via a tele or video conference or even via e-mail/instant messaging. 

The purpose of the activity is:

• to get team members to discuss their needs and preferences for project working, with other team members and the Research Team Leader

Anticipated outcomes are: 

• increased trust, empathy and understanding within the project team 
• an opportunity for the Research Team Leader to review working preferences and practices within the project team

Activity

Ask team members to identify in pairs or trios answers to questions based on the following: 

1. Looking at your responsibilities to this team, what would you add or take away in order to enrich your job?
2. What changes to methods would you make in order to enrich your job? 
3. Would it enrich your job to reschedule certain tasks?  If so which and how? 
4. Do you find it more satisfying working with certain team members, or organisations?  If so, who and how do they enrich your job? 
5. Are there areas of the job role in which you would like more freedom or more resources?  What are these areas and what could you do to pursue them and enrich your job?

Research Team Leaders need to be aware that this exercise can only be conducted in relation to work on their particular project, but it might be a useful exercise to complete for the whole of a member’s role if their respective organisation/ department are amenable to such practices.