Consider the following statement: “All of the literature on team performance indicates that attacks on a team member’s personality, appearance, intelligence, or any other personal characteristic does irreparable harm to the team.” Define the term irreparable. If, in a moment of frustration and anger, you tell someone that he or she is stupid, what can you do to repair the damage?

What can your teammates do? Suppose in that moment of anger and frustration you have the thought that the person with whom you are conversing is stupid. What can you do that will increase the effectiveness of your team? Keep Hackman’s three criteria in mind as you answer.

Explain the statement, “The easiest way to solve a problem is not to have it.”