Workshop:
Building a Winning Team
When asked to name the "best" team to which they have ever belonged, few employees choose a team from their professional experience. About four out of five respond with answers outside the working environment, such as sports teams and special interest groups.
The fact is that real teamwork is still too rare in business organizations, and many employees reserve their passion, energy and commitment for areas other than their work. This represents a tremendous loss not just for companies but for individuals as well. Companies lose access to the drive, creativity and energy which is so much a part of high-performing teams. But individuals also lose: They must look elsewhere for an outlet to give their best talents and to gain the sense of belonging and meaning that comes with membership in a high-performing team.
This workshop provides current and future team leaders with insights and skills to face the challenge of transforming a group of individual employees into a winning team. Participants learn to observe and understand the dynamics of team behaviour. They learn to develop and implement a strategy for leading their team through the stages of team formation towards the ultimate goal of top performance.
Who Should Attend?
Team leaders and those who are preparing team leadership responsibilities.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending this workshop, participants will:
- Understand team formation and the dynamics of team behaviour.
- Implement skills which are essential for effective team performance.
- Clearly articulate their expectations and vision for their team.
- Assess current team performance and specify areas where improvement is needed.
- Tailor their approach to capitalize on the unique talents each team member offers.
- Identify the values which are critical to team success and determine the steps needed to instill these values throughout the team.
- Have an action plan for closing the gaps between current and desired team performance.
Workshop Details
Course duration: Three to four days.
Number of participants: Eight to twenty-four.
Workshop Content
How Successful Teams Grow and Perform
- What makes a team?
- Stages in team development
- Roles in effective teams
- Characteristics of high performing teams
Establishing a High-Performing Team Culture
- Laying the foundation for effective teamwork
- What values are critical to your team's success?
- Getting buy-in and ownership from team members
The Role of Communication in Successful Teams
- Improving the quality of listening in the team
- Encouraging assertiveness and open communication
- Actions speak louder than words: Understanding metacommunication
- Making the self-fulfilling prophecy work for you
Using Individual Differences to Create Team Synergy
- Different ways of perceiving and interacting with the surrounding world
- Understanding your own perceptual and problem-solving styles
- Exploring the styles of other team members
- Creating an atmosphere which brings out each team member's strengths
Managing Team Conflict
- Different approaches to dealing with conflict
- Identifying individual responses to conflict
- Developing a wider range of conflict styles
- Using conflict as a source of energy and innovation
Group Problem-Solving
- Who owns the problem?
- Developing a range of individual and group thinking styles
- Group techniques for collecting ideas and solving problems
- Balancing desire for optimal solutions with the value of team ownership
Leading and Motivating the Team To Peak Performance
- What do team members want from their jobs?
- Winning individual commitment to team goals
- Developing your leadership style
- Developing the potential of each team member
Action Planning
- Creating a shared team vision
- Identifying gaps between current and desired team performance
- Preparing an action plan to close the gaps