Donald Lush Westminster Adult Education Service

1. Successful Teams Donald Lush Westminster Adult Education Service

2. Adult education college in London • 12,000 part-time students • About 50% learning English • Large basic skills provision • Large programme for employers

3. About me • Director - member of senior team • Admissions • Publicity • Learning support • Learning resources • Student advice • Nurseries • Equality and diversity

4. What makes a great team? • “I think someone referred to us as the "dream team". And if you think of football, what is it that has a team winning cups one season and fighting against relegation the next? No easy answer.” Judith Fowler, ISSA

5. Context • Well-defined set of tasks • Clear budget • Clear staffing • Good allocation of resources • Clear management structure

6. Vision and Values • European vision • Overlap of partners missions and values

7. Motivation • Expectancy theory - Victor Vroom • Favourable performance will result in a desirable reward • The reward will satisfy an important need • The desire to satisfy the need is strong enough to make the effort worthwhile.

8. Leaders • Set the boundaries • Keep everyone safe • Allow risks and creativity • Have back up plans • Take responsibility • Appreciate

9. Organic organisation • A fluid and flexible network of multi-talented individuals who perform a variety of tasks without being restrained by hierarchy or function

10. Other factors • Communication • Commitment to excellence • Good “followership” • Work to strengths • Have fun together • Mutual appreciation and praise

11. Conclusions • Work from an over-arching vision • Common ground in mission and values • Team has appropriate resources, skills, experience and knowledge • Inspiring, skilled and experienced leaders who can provide a robust framework and plan • Administration is effective, fair and transparent • Worthwhile professional and personal rewards • An organic organisation is particularly suitable to project work • Successful teams need good luck