You don't have to get your team to charge around in the mud and swing from trees, but to generate any sort of enduring change, you are going to have to ask them to get their hands dirty in other ways.

 

The idea of this part of the site is to help you to set off in the right direction with team development. Much of the material we publish you'll find in the Members' area which you can access for free. Just get yourself a username and password and you're in. Of course, this will also let us stay in touch with you when we have something interesting for you on individual coaching, team development or on the more complex issues arising from organsationa development projects. Just let us know when you are happy to go it alone and we'll remove you from our mailing list.

 

 

 

 

Team

We think that team development of any sort, no matter what the team's situation, is about lifting the mist and allowing people multiple opportunities to 'see' what's going on. We believe that once individuals are clear about what is happening and how they personally are helping or hindering performance, given plenty of encouragement, they generally know exactly what to do next. The challenge is then not about getting them moving but on helping them to be really choosy about where to concentrate their energy.

 

We suggest that when someone is considering doing some work on their team, they follow a few simple guidelines for getting off on the right foot.

 

  • Take a look at the leader first. Have they ever received any sort of team leadership coaching? This person needs to be given plenty of support before and during the other team interventions that you carry out.
  • Do not diagnose and plan things for the team and then prescribe 'instructive' activities. Put them in the driving seat from the start - ask them what they want to work on and with what end in mind.
  • Whatever team development exercises you (plural) put together, make them specific to an objective, simple to tie in to real life and inclusive of the diversity of people in the group.

 

In the coming months we'll be putting more tips and strategies into the FAQs area of the site to help you to develop all sorts of human-related skills from delegation to coaching. Come back and dip in as you need to.

 

Perhaps one of these scenarios is like the one you're looking to change.