Team Building

New teams have special challenges and members frequently do not know how to stage their work for success. Valuable time may be wasted with wheel spinning. A simple team chartering process defines the sponsor/leader relationship, clarifies the mission, sets specific goals, identifies role responsibilities and outlines key work processes. I can take a team through this process to support the team in moving into action with ease and power.

Individuals who work interdependently to achieve a common goal must periodically ask questions such as: What is working for us that we can capitalize on? What isn't working so well that we need to change? I provide impartial facilitation of issue-identification sessions which are designed to produce a list of action items for team development. I blend my facilitation skills with team consulting in the service of creating this action plan. As needed, I can support the team in moving forward on selected actions.

A team may be functioning well, but have a critical mission-related dragon it must slay to be successful. Such challenges include core work process improvement, cost-cutting measures, or tackling business issues such as customer service or technology issues. I am well versed in a collaborative problem solving methodology that takes a group through replicable problem-solving phases called perception, definition and root cause analysis. This systematic approach is designed to increase the chance that the group will focus on the real problem and that its solutions will last.

Some teams need experiences that will accelerate a sense of community for teams or help them work through historical bad blood. As an organizational psychologist, I have the ability to create bonding experiences for new teams which draw on a sense of fun and team interplay. If need be, I can support a team in finding its way through tough issues to building consensus on the best path forward. I use a variety of personality instruments, such as the DISC survey, to support a team in reaching a new level of cooperation.

The ability to work together smoothly is a kind of elixir that can calm a stressful situation. I deliver learning experiences that help build collaborative cultures. One key program, O! California, takes members of a large group and asks them to barter scarce resources in the service of helping the Governor of the state of California balance his budget. Over a four-hour period, groups use role playing to move from partisan attacks and retaliation, to negotiation and cooperation. The metaphor helps create a visceral understanding of what it means to be truly collaborative. Other kinds of skill building programs are also available to help a team work together effectively.

Whether your team is made up of nnights and pages, or designers and accountants, the opportunity exists to build its strength. I put my skills at the ready in support of this quest for the ultimate team.

For more information about how Andrew Black consulting can transform your team building efforts, click here.