Team Development Process

Good teamwork is not something you can demand. It must be developed and nurtured by the team's leader. The Team Development Process focuses on teaching teams a practical, business-focused language for understanding each other and what is important to the success of the team. With an accurate understanding of how each person on the team approaches his or her work, behavior becomes predictable and understandable.

Purpose

To enable teams to work collaboratively toward common goals and objectives in a way that minimizes conflict and utilizes the strengths of each team member.

Benefits

As a result of this process, the team can expect to

• Reduce the amount of time spent resolving interpersonal crises
• Quickly and efficiently accomplish business objectives
• Appropriately utilize the strengths of each team member
• Identify and compensate for areas of team vulnerability
• Maintain a high motivational level for each team member
• Recognize and reward the team in satisfying ways

Process

The Team Development Process consists of three steps that can be expanded into more sessions in order to ensure that learning is sustained. In preparation for this process, each team member will complete the Birkman Behavioral Questionnaire, which will provide a profile of each team member, as well as the team as a whole.

Step 1: Team Players

The first step is to provide each team member with a foundation for understanding his or her behavior, as well as that of their teammates. They will receive a customized profile that will 1) describe the aspects of the work environment that they most enjoy, 2) their business strengths that are an asset to the team, 3) what they require from others in order to stay motivated to contribute to the team 4) and how they will react in stressful situations.

Step 2A: Team Dynamics Quick Start

The purpose of this four-hour program is to quickly move a group into the Team Dynamics process. The Quick Start program is grid-based and presents individual and team characteristics in a way that provides fast insight.

This program unfolds in three distinct parts beginning with understanding what contributes to and constitutes success individually and collectively. With that understanding as a base we then examine the attributes of each individual in four separate and distinct areas and how those attributes impact their individual performance. Finally we combine each of the individual 'snapshots' and consider what happens when these people come together as a team. Just as with the individual we look at the team dynamics from four distinct perspectives. The participants will engage in group exercises and interactive discussion to reinforce the concepts set forth in the classroom portion of the program.

Each participant will receive their own Leadership Style Grid report as well as a Team Leadership Grid.

Step 2B: Team Dynamics

In this day and a half session, the team will develop a common definition of what it means to be successful as a group. Using the personal profiles from the first session, the team will now learn how these individual characteristics translate into team assets. The team will also identify misunderstandings that could jeopardize group objectives and gain a new appreciation for the value of differences in the work setting.

• Relate: This module focuses on separate individual aspects of how we relate to others and then links them to reveal the interpersonal dynamics that contribute to people's ability to understand and trust each other.
• Communicate: Effective communication occurs when information is clearly transmitted and accurately received so that proper action can be taken. This module focuses on our approach to communication and the strategies and tactics that contribute to us effectively receiving or sending our messages.
• Act: This module examines how we can efficiently meet our goals and objectives with minimal wasted effort. Focus is given to decision-making, timelines and meeting expectations.
• Motivate: This module is focused on the aspects within us that are nonnegotiable. When present they provide motivation, when absent they create discord between the person and the organization.

Step 3: The Team Coach

In these sessions the leader will learn how to effectively respond to the differing situations that arise within the work environment. A key piece of this step is to develop the ability to inspire a diverse group of people so that they are committed to the vision, mission and goals of the team and organization. The Team Coach will be able to mobilize the team for rapid response to changing priorities and be more effective in a wider range of circumstances. Among the materials included in these sessions is a comprehensive manual for how to coach the team.