Maintaining great teamwork is a delicate thing. Throughout the day to day interactions in any organization, teamwork can get derailed, and can negatively impact the work environment to the point where real productivity is seriously affected and something must be done.
Typically, historical events, personal and departmental conflicts and stress, and a lot of water under the bridge have accumulated. This is an all-to-common occurrence in many companies, but it CAN be turned around- and fast. ATD has developed a powerful two-day process where teams can release tension, get unstuck, redefine their commitment to one another, confirm new approaches to overcome old problems, and have a positive high energy shared experience that shifts how they work together.
The Two-day Team Intervention Program has been refined over the past 20+ years and works amazingly well because of a combination of powerful elements:
Anonymous Teamwork Survey- A 50 question anonymous survey allows each team member to speak frankly with a comprehensive and rigorous question set to help examine the team's internal workings. Team responses are rolled up into a statistical report that is presented and reviewed early in the program. This vital step helps to constructively identify and prioritize issues and history and guides the focus for training objectives and exercises to be presented. The team survey acts as a vital release-valve, that can efficiently and effectively address current issues so the team feels like their concerns have been voiced (without it turning into a log drawn out negative discussion) so they can be ready to proceed with a new path. Without this step, groups will typically resist teamwork initiatives, because they don't see core issues being addressed.
Team 'Ideal State' Process- Together the team participates in a redefinition 'affinity process' where everyone contributes to an ideal state vision of the team and how it can best work together for everyone's satisfaction. The important part of this process is that it is inclusive of all team members who feel that their perspectives are included and integrated into the formation of the identity and direction of the team-- a great way to shift from resistance to support for where the team is going.
Group Dynamics Experiential Exercises- The 'meat' of the program is a series of carefully selected experiential exercises that are both stimulating for the adult learner, and also target very specific skills and approaches the team needs to work on. The fun and non-threatening environment created allows participants to experiment, to try new behaviors on for size, and to demonstrate cause-effect relationships between new team skills and the better results they can generate for themselves.
Peer Feedback- Strong personalities are often core issues when it comes to helping a group work better together. An anonymous peer feedback process addresses the specific teamwork behaviors of each individual, where each program participant 'gets the message' team membes want to send them about areas they can improve in terms of teamwork. Skillfully facilitated, this delicate process is one of the most powerful individual benefts on the program. Many have said that it was one of the most beneficial professional development experiences of their career.
High Energy Shared Adventure Experience- A significant high energy adventure experience is included specifically to create the perception of a situation where the group must really pull together and support one another in an unfamiliar and challenging environment. Rock Climbing, Sea Kayaking, The Ropes Course, Team Caving and other safely structured adventures can help individuals make breakthroughs in trust with one another, see one another's similarities rather than differences, create a 'peak positive experience' for the group as an integrated unit- anchoring their strength and resilience and successes together. Team Adventures really help a group loosen up and provide the catalyst to bring out positive feelings and jump start the transition to a more positive team identity. Positive memories are created and documented.
Chartering Future Improvements- Feeling good and making commitments is one thing, but transference of the program benefits happens more effectively when it is supported by a tangible action plan. Tough issues don't all go away overnight, unless there is a methodical way to addres them, and a specific action plan with accountability to do something different when the team comes back to work. Specific time is allocated towards the end of the two day process to charter teamwork improvements, assign small group improvment intitiates and set up a procedure to report back on results and to track/measure ongoing progress. This valuable part of the program is it's most valuable 'deliverable' in terms of ongoing beneficial program impacts back at work.
Follow-Up- When the positive energy of the training experience has subsided, it is important to revisit commitments and progress after 30 days. Re-prioritizing teamwork amidst all of the normal day-to-day challenges needs support. Getting the group to 'tighten up' again on their commitments is a helpful and proactive way to insure that your program investment will continue to pay off.
Because of the long hours, intense activities and discussions, and rich program format, The Two Day Team Intervention Program is best held at an off-site setting, ideally in a remote location without distractions. Aquarius Training & Development has two cost effective locations just south of the border with great environments for this process.
Brava Grande Retreat Center- Features a magnificent ocean front location with giant mountian cirque in the backyard- activities on site include team rock climbing , sea kayaking, team fishing and horses.
