Question 1

In a best-case scenario, it takes approximately ________ for a team to reach the top level of performance.
A) 3-5 days
B) 2-3 weeks
C) 4-5 months
D) 6-7 months
E) 1-2 years

Accepted Answer

Nearly all high-performing teams go through four stages before they maximize their performance. In best-case scenarios, they take roughly six to seven months to reach this level.

Question 2

Over time, team leaders typically become
A) less easygoing and more controlling.
B) less available and more distant.
C) less demanding and more understanding.
D) less directive and more consultative.
E) less deadline focused and more quality focused.

Accepted Answer

Typically, leaders become less directive and more consultative as the team progresses through the four stages of development.

Question 3

The stage in which team members get to know one another and work on avoiding conflict is called the ________ stage.
A) storming
B) norming
C) forming
D) informing
E) performing

Accepted Answer

In the forming stage (months 1 and 2), team members focus on gaining acceptance and avoiding conflict. In some ways, this stage is a honeymoon period in which team members get to know one another.

Question 4

During the storming stage of development, team members typically
A) get to know one another.
B) finalize the work plan.
C) clarify responsibilities.
D) offer competing ideas.
E) operate efficiently toward accomplishing their goals.

Accepted Answer

In the storming stage (months 2 and 3), team members open up with their competing ideas about how the team should approach work.

Question 5

The least productive stage of development for teams is typically the ________ stage.
A) forming
B) norming
C) performing
D) informing
E) storming

Accepted Answer

In the storming stage (months 2 and 3), team members open up with their competing ideas about how the team should approach work. This stage is typically the least productive, since members are attempting to make sense of uncertain roles, goals, and accountabilities.

Question 6

At which point does a team typically begin the norming stage of development?
A) 1-2 months
B) 2-3 months
C) 4-5 months
D) 6-7 months
E) 10-12 months

Accepted Answer

In the norming stage (months 4 and 5), the team arrives at a work plan, including the roles, goals, and accountabilities.

Question 7

Samir's team has been working together for six months and is finally reaching a point where everyone is operating efficiently toward accomplishing their goals. Samir's team has reached the ________ stage of development.
A) forming
B) performing
C) norming
D) storming
E) conforming

Accepted Answer

In the performing stage (months 6 and 7), teams operate efficiently toward accomplishing their goals.

Question 8

Which of the following is the best definition of team culture?
A) a lack of conflict or disagreement
B) an ability to work independently with minimal collaboration
C) the presence of a strong and vocal leader whom all other team members follow
D) a shared set of values, norms, roles, responsibilities, and goals
E) a healthy sense of competition meant to weed out bad ideas

Accepted Answer

Team culture refers to a team's set of shared perceptions and commitment to collective values, norms, roles, responsibilities, and goals.

Question 9

Carla's team has been working together for seven months and is showing signs of reaching peak performance. However, the team is sometimes hindered by conflicts in which team members misinterpret each other's behavior as encroaching on their territory. To address this, Carla should
A) move individual team members to different areas in the office.
B) take on more responsibilities for herself to relieve pressure from the team.
C) lay off team members who complain too often.
D) hold regular meetings and encourage open discussion.
E) assert more control over the day-to-day activities of the team.

Accepted Answer

High-performing teams avoid simply going with the flow. Rather, they frequently discuss the set of values, norms, and goals they share. This process is critical, since team members often attach different meanings to the same goals. Open discussion helps them avoid misinterpreting each other's motivations and actions.

Question 10

Which of the following has been identified as the biggest barrier to team effectiveness?
A) poor communication
B) unclear goals
C) low morale
D) low productivity
E) lack of trust

Accepted Answer

In a recent survey of business professionals, 66 percent of respondents cited ineffective communication as the biggest barrier to team effectiveness.

Question 11

According to a recent survey of business professionals, the most frustrating aspect of being on a team is
A) a lack of free time.
B) unrealistic timelines and budgets.
C) ineffective use of meeting time.
D) not being the team leader.
E) having to share an assignment.

Accepted Answer

When they ranked the most frustrating aspects of being part of a team, business professionals cited the following: ineffective use of meeting time (54 percent), ineffective communication among team members (50 percent), lack of accountability (47 percent), individuals who don't complete assignments (44 percent), and lack of preparation in meetings (41 percent).

Question 12

Among high-performing teams, approximately ________ percent of all remarks are focused on work, while the rest are either supportive or social.
A) 5-10
B) 25-30
C) 40-50
D) 60-70
E) 80-90

Accepted Answer

Of every 100 comments team members in high-performing groups make, 60 to 70 directly relate to work-goals, coordination, roles, task clarification, and other project-related issues. Another 15 to 20 statements are supportive, intended to show goodwill and encouragement, and 10 to 15 are primarily social.

Question 13

The majority of remarks made by lower-performing teams are focused on
A) supporting other team members.
B) clarifying responsibilities.
C) undermining authority.
D) bonding and socializing.
E) adjusting deadlines.

Accepted Answer

Team members in lower-performing groups make far fewer work-related and supportive statements. They typically replace these with social statements that may help team members bond, but not around work issues.

Question 14

The reason most teams underperform is that they
A) have weak leadership.
B) don't meet often enough.
C) lack sufficient funding.
D) are overworked.
E) personally dislike each other.

Accepted Answer

Most groups underperform because they do not meet often enough. Fundamentally, spending time together establishes and reinforces the social bonding and loyalty a team needs to work well together. Frequent meetings are necessary to establish shared perceptions of roles, goals, and accountabilities.

Question 15

Vera's team has similar education and work experience but features a range of ages, genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. This is known as ________ diversity.
A) acquired
B) enforced
C) inherent
D) random
E) valid

Accepted Answer

Diversity comes in two forms: inherent and acquired. Inherent diversity describes differences in traits such as age, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Question 16

Teams with acquired diversity feature a range of
A) ages.
B) experiences.
C) ethnicities.
D) income levels.
E) genders.

Accepted Answer

Acquired diversity describes differences you gain through experience, such as customer service experience, retail experience, or engineering experience.

Question 17

Tyreke brings several ideas to his team's project launch meeting. When other team members offer critiques, he accepts the feedback without becoming defensive or taking it personally. Tyreke is demonstrating
A) norming.
B) avoiding.
C) inherent diversity.
D) introversion.
E) disassociation.

Accepted Answer

Disassociation is a process by which professionals accept critiques of their ideas without taking them personally or becoming defensive.

Question 18

Association is the process by which
A) people become bonded to their ideas.
B) teams become familiar with each other.
C) employees are selected for a team.
D) teams establish goals and objectives.
E) companies accept proposals from teams.

Accepted Answer

Association is the psychological bonding that occurs between people and their ideas.

Question 19

Caris is friendly, outgoing, and unafraid to speak her mind, making her a natural team leader. Caris exhibits the characteristics of a(n)
A) accommodator.
B) compromiser.
C) extravert.
D) avoider.
E) introvert.

Accepted Answer

Extraversion is a personality trait shared by people who are friendly, assertive, and outgoing with others.

Question 20

The main difference between extraverts and introverts is that
A) introverts are friendly, whereas extraverts are mean.
B) introverts are inefficient, whereas extraverts work quickly.
C) introverts are shy, whereas extraverts are outgoing.
D) introverts are natural leaders, whereas extraverts need training to become leaders.
E) introverts can work independently, whereas extraverts must collaborate.

Accepted Answer

Extraversion is a personality trait shared by people who are friendly, assertive, and outgoing with others. In contrast, introversion characterizes people who are shy and reserved.

Quiz 6: Effective Team Communication

In a best-case scenario, it takes approximately ________ for a team to reach the top level of performance.

Over time, team leaders typically become

The stage in which team members get to know one another and work on avoiding conflict is called the ________ stage.

During the storming stage of development, team members typically

The least productive stage of development for teams is typically the ________ stage.

At which point does a team typically begin the norming stage of development?

Samir's team has been working together for six months and is finally reaching a point where everyone is operating efficiently toward accomplishing their goals. Samir's team has reached the ________ stage of development.

Which of the following is the best definition of team culture?

Carla's team has been working together for seven months and is showing signs of reaching peak performance. However, the team is sometimes hindered by conflicts in which team members misinterpret each other's behavior as encroaching on their territory. To address this, Carla should

Which of the following has been identified as the biggest barrier to team effectiveness?

According to a recent survey of business professionals, the most frustrating aspect of being on a team is

Among high-performing teams, approximately ________ percent of all remarks are focused on work, while the rest are either supportive or social.

The majority of remarks made by lower-performing teams are focused on

The reason most teams underperform is that they

Vera's team has similar education and work experience but features a range of ages, genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. This is known as ________ diversity.

Teams with acquired diversity feature a range of

Tyreke brings several ideas to his team's project launch meeting. When other team members offer critiques, he accepts the feedback without becoming defensive or taking it personally. Tyreke is demonstrating

Association is the process by which

Caris is friendly, outgoing, and unafraid to speak her mind, making her a natural team leader. Caris exhibits the characteristics of a(n)

The main difference between extraverts and introverts is that