Unit 5

Rachel Vine 

Unit 5 - Contribute to Good Working Relationships

5.1 Understand how to agree working arrangements 

1.1 Identify key roles and tasks in the production process. 

The area I work in at DCAS is varied, all members of staff have qualities and skills which categorise their job roles. For example our manager Dan Oakley has many responsibilities throughout the business which includes, managing staff, wages, clients, budgets, and other important tasks. My line manager Martyn Stonehouse often takes part in the weekly creative sessions but is specialised in the technical sector of the business such as music production and lighting. Using myself as an example, my job role varies from youth work assistance during the weekly sessions, video editing, music production and recordings and I am also part of DCASLive which is a monthly session I present for the promotion of DCAS. DCAS can often get very busy and during these times we use all of our skills to help the project run smoothly. 

1.2 Outline how to clarify, agree and revise working arrangements in a way which promotes good working relationships.

Building good working relationships within the workplace can be quite simple, understanding how to communicate in a certain way depending on the situation or environment can contribute to the relationship you have between your colleagues. Also recognising what type of communication you would use depending on who you are speaking to can help develop your professionalism. An example of this would be if I was talking to my manager I would use more formal language compared to how I would speak to a relative. 

5.2 Understand how to communicate effectively with colleagues

2.1 Explain the importance of balancing the needs of tasks and people. 

When working on a project with a large team it is important that the skill level is considered so that no one feels unsupported in their role. Distributing work loads between people can be useful as some people may be busier than others. Taking things into consideration like team members that may have holidays planned whilst the project is in process and also other factors that may effect their performance or the project. 

2.2 Explain the importance of sharing information with colleagues. 

Regular communication is essential when creating a project especially when a large amount of people are involved. Keeping all members of the team up to date with new information and making sure there is an adjustment made to the original project plan then this can help everyone to keep on track of tasks that need to be done and by whom. Even when working on a task individually its good to make others aware of the changes or what the task entails this will ensure that if the individual is not in one day due to illness or holiday than someone is knowledgeable enough to take on that work load. 

2.3 Identify ways of tactfully requesting others to change working arrangements to improve own productivity. 

If during the time of production I find an issue within the work place that is concerning I would make my line manager aware so he could deal with it in the right manner. However if I was in a situation where I would have to address this myself, I would do this in a supportive way rather than confrontational, offering suggestions and advice that could improve the effectiveness of the project. This in turn will help to create a better working relationship. 

2.4  Describe how to explain own decisions clearly and constructively.

When addressing an issue it is useful to give constructive criticism because helpful advice which is beneficial to the individual and the team. Using simple explanations and recognising what that person has done well in other areas will also make them feel more confident and helps them see where they could improve.  

2.5 Describe how to resolve conflict situations or dissatisfaction.

It is important that when dealing with conflict you are in a good place yourself. Calmly discussing the issue in a private and relaxed environment can keep both parties at ease. Always make a senior member of staff aware of the situation so that you are not alone or feel uncomfortable. This will also contribute to the issue being dealt with in an appropriate and professional way.

2.6 Explain the importance of liaison with colleagues to productivity.

It is important to maintain a professional yet friendly attitude towards colleagues as this will allow me to liaise and share information in an appropriate way. Without this communication it would be hard to get through simple daily tasks. Liaising with others can help personal development and be a good way to share skills. These qualities can contribute to productivity by allowing more than one person to use the same skill set and possibly achieve results in a shorter time frame. Recognising the importance of liaising with the appropriate colleague when setting a certain task can determine how productive the result may be. For example if I had some information that required posting online I would send this over to our Social Media apprentice as she is responsible for this task.

5.3 Be able to develop and maintain good working relationships during the production process.

3.1 Clarify, agree and revise working arrangements, promoting good working relationships.

Regular meetings are a good way to maintain good communication in a team and this helps to create good working relationships. During the meetings it is useful to include all the information the team may need to know. This can be timescales, budget, job roles, final outcome and locations. To ensure everyone is aware of the same requirements make sure each person involved in the project agrees and has a physical copy of the production plan. That way it will decrease the possibility of confusion. It is also good practise to make sure there is a leader to which people can turn to if they have any queries.

3.2 Communicate own decisions clearly and constructively.

Whilst working amongst a team it can be quite difficult to get your opinion across in a clear and constructive way. Ways which I find can help me communicate these is to speak to someone who may have a higher role, in this case it gives you a chance to explain in more detail. Speaking to the correct member of the team could allow my idea be considered more than if I was to present this idea at a meeting along with other team members. 

3.3 Resolve any conflict situations or dissatisfaction as necessary. 

Understanding a variety of ways to deal with conflict can make the production process feel more relaxed. This is also explained in more detail in part 2.5 of this essay.

3.4 Liaise with appropriate colleagues to ensure effective and productive working. 

During the production process it is useful to liaise with the appropriate colleague to get the best results. This is explained in further detail in part 2.6 of this essay.