OVERVIEW
Peter Senge in his seminal book, ‘The Fifth Discipline’ set out the core learning capabilities of a team as understanding complexity (systems thinking), reflective conversation, and aspiration (personal mastery and shared vision). All three are core to building great teams that achieve successful outcomes while continuing to grow and develop as individuals and as a team. The odds are against us from an early age as socialisation rewards compliance and pleasing those in authority over us. ‘System failures’ is often stated as a reason for failures within organisations with little or no analysis as to what that means. The system is made up of people, who both shape and are shaped by it and the prevailing culture. The purpose of team coaching is to go beyond the visible and the conscious and surface the dynamics and unconscious behaviours that can keep teams stuck. Surfacing unconscious dynamics frees up energy allowing the team to focus on purpose and task.
WHO IS IT FOR?
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Teams
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Leaders
Content is tailored to the team, their level in the organisation and their needs
Team Coaching
Team Coaching focusses upon the relationships and dynamics within the team as well as the wider organisation and its stakeholders to surface the factors and forces supporting the work of the team. Some of these forces may no longer be serving the purpose and long-term aspirations of the team. Key to team coaching is learning and adapting and adjusting mindsets and behaviours as necessary. It is a process which aims to facilitate individual and team reflection and to provide a safe space for candid conversations within the team.
As with individual coaching, the process offers the team an opportunity to reflect upon their relationships with each other, their stakeholders and customers while also keeping a focus on team purpose. Team coaching starts with an initial scoping and contracting phase to better understand the context and desired outcomes. A way forward is agreed which may include attendance at meetings for observation and feedback as well as facilitated sessions to explore relationships, team purpose and tasks. The approach is collaborative throughout from inception to review allowing for an adaptability and flexibility that reflects the working environment.
Teambuilding Workshops
Have you recently taken over a team and want to establish a new direction but don’t know where to begin? Or perhaps you lead a team where members have left and new members have recently joined and you would like to do something with the team but don’t quite know what. Or maybe you manage a long established team who have simply lost their mojo. Niamh will work with you to co-create a session that is tailored to meet your needs. Whether it’s clarifying purpose and vision or creating a space for members to get to know each other better and
agree ways of working Niamh will work with you to create something that is meaningful for your team.
An example of a teambuilding workshop was one where a manager new in the role wanted to create a shared understanding of the purpose and role of the team. Creating a safe space is a key component of any session and in this example an experiential exercise was used to explore purpose and guide the team in creating a shared understanding of their purpose. With a shared understanding of purpose, the team members were able to move forward to explore a vision for where they wanted to go and agree core values which would underpin and drive their behaviours with each other, their stakeholders and customers.
Depending upon the nature of the workshop, a timeline can be agreed. For this kind of work, half-day workshops are often preferable as they allow for processing and work between workshops. It also allows the workshops to be flexible and adapt to the emerging needs of the team.
Potential Outcomes
Renewed energy around purpose and task
Greater understanding of roles within the team
Relationship building and more open communication
Create a psychologically safe environment
1 day - 6 to 7 hours Half day - 3-4 hours
Shorter sessions can be facilitated at pro-rata rates.
