Teamwork Step 3

Teamwork: Working cooperatively with others towards achieving a shared goal.

Step 3: I work well with others by taking responsibility for completing my tasks

Outcomes

To achieve Step 3, learners will show that they can take responsibility for completing their tasks.

The earlier steps have been about building the foundations of being able to work effectively with others. This step builds off this by focusing on taking responsibility.

Learners need to be able to:

Understand what it means to take responsibility
Understand when taking responsibility works well

Introduction

Taking responsibility is taking charge of something and working to ensure that it is a success. It means that you get the praise if it goes well, but it also means that you have to take the blame if it goes badly.
When given a task, you work hard to make sure that it happens and don’t make excuses or blame other people if things go wrong. Instead, you try to fix any problems yourself or find someone else to help, rather than giving up.

Skill Starter

Stop and Think

Ask learners:

Think about the last time you were praised for doing something. Did you finish it on time? Did you do everything you said you would? How did others react?
Think about the last time you didn’t do something you said you would or you did not complete it on time.
What was the reaction of those relying on you? Did you apologise? Take responsibility? Correct the situation?

If appropriate, discuss examples together, e.g. being late for practice.

5 mins

Individual activity

Discussion

Teach & Apply

What are the positive effects of taking responsibility? What are some of the risks of taking responsibility?
Positives may include being given more control and freedom, building trust with others and learning as you overcome setbacks.
Potential negatives may include a lack of training or skills to complete a task, being blamed for factors beyond your control.
To get the balance right, there are certain things you should try to understand or have when taking responsibility for something:
- A clear view of what you are responsible for
- The skills and training you need to complete the tasks.
- Knowledge of what you are not responsible for.

Optional Activity

Elastic Bridge

In groups of 3, two players stand 3 metres apart; the third forms a ‘human bridge’ arch in the middle. The two outer players roll the ball to each other under the bridge, while the third player maintains their balance. They have up to 5 attempts before they can try a new bridge approach.

After 5 attempts, learners should discuss each player’s roles and responsibilities to ensure they all perform to a high standard, and potentially beat the other teams. At this point, players can also change roles.

Introduce additional challenges for learners to discuss in their teams:

Different balances for the middle player
A sequence of balances to be performed
Changing the roles of the young people within the team
Using balls with different sizes and weights

The team with the most successful rolls, without losing balance, wins. At the end, reflect as a group on the impact of discussing and sharing responsibilities. Were the results positive, e.g. clearer strategies? Were there any risks, e.g. losing time?

15 mins

Group activity

Active

Reflection & Assessment

Embed these strategies across your teaching and coaching to help learners apply what they’ve learnt.

The concept of taking responsibility for completing tasks is a good one to build and reinforce in sessions. When learners receive tasks for themselves, they should be told how they are being given responsibility for completing them and you can reinforce clear expectations.

Use these ideas for ways of assessing this skill step to help you check learners’ understanding and confidence.

This step is best assessed through observation over a sustained period to see whether learners are able to demonstrate taking responsibility for completing tasks over the long-term.
Ask these reflective questions:
- What does it mean to take responsibility?
- What are the positive effects of taking responsibility?
- What are some of the risks of taking responsibility?