Double the productivity of any team in one or two days!
Direct, practical and motivating. No drawn-out theory about personality types. No outdoor challenges and no silly games!

The following straightforward approach works well for both new teams striving to find the best way forward and established teams that need rejuvenating. Teams can be across departments or cross-company.

• Set aside at least a day, preferably away from the office and invite as many members of the team as possible. You must get junior and senior colleagues and different roles together.
• Seven days or so before the event ask all team members to list at least six things they are concerned about, or that they think are hindering the team. Use an external facilitator to collect and analyse this information and assure participants that their responses are confidential.
• Begin the event explaining its purpose and with an exercise to encourage, and show the need for being completely open.
• Follow this with a short (30 minute) open discussion session on what makes a good team.
• Then ask the whole group to identify the top six things that are or could hinder the team doing even better. Form two or three smaller groups and give each a hindrance, instructing them to give recommendations on how to overcome that hindrance. Allow 20 minutes then re-group
• Group One gives their results and these are then discussed for practicality by the whole team. After 20 minutes or so a facilitator records the AGREED actions on a flipchart. The facilitator should probe if actions are not clear. Do the same for the Groups Two and Three.
• Spend the rest of the day doing this!!! By the end of it you’ll have found solutions to at least eight or nine issues that are hindering the team.
• The team then appoints an “internal chaser” who is charged with reminding “us” every two weeks to close-out actions and to report back to the whole group with a short report on progress
• Set a half-day follow-up three months ahead to evaluate progress and raise more actions.

Have you spotted the long-term value in this approach?

In addition to hard actions, the real benefit comes from the mutual understanding and support that arises from detailed discussions of one another’s difficulties, pressures and needs. After a day of this, people begin to realise that they can solve most of their problems straightforwardly.

Here are two sample programmes.

1 DAY with PRE-WORKSHOP QUESTIONNAIRE

9.00 - 9.15 Introduction: objectives for the day

9.15 - 10.15 Effective communication

How to get what you want - most of the time!

10.15 - 10.30 Even better team performance I: the results of the questionnaire, initial selection of hindrances to be overcome

10.00 - 10.30 Tea/coffee

10.30 - 12.30 Even better team performance II with Tea/coffee

10.30 - 11.30 Working in small teams to find suggestions for overcoming hindrances to better performance .

11.30 - 12.45 Re-form large group to discuss and finalise actions.

12.45 - 1.30 Lunch

1.30 - 3.30 Even better team performance III

1.30 - 2.15 Working in small teams to find suggestions for overcoming hindrances to better performance.

2.15 - 3.15 Re-form large group to discuss and finalise actions.

3.30 - 3.45 Tea/coffee

3.45 - 5.00 Wash-up of remaining hindrances

Appointing a “chaser”

Set date for follow-up

Feedback on today

1.5 DAYS with PRE-WORKSHOP QUESTIONNAIRE

Day One

9.00 - 9.15 Introduction: objectives for the day

9.15 - 10.15 Effective communication

How to get what you want - most of the time!

10.15 - 10.30 Even better team performance: the results of the questionnaire, initial selection of hindrances to be overcome

10.00 - 10.30 Tea/coffee

10.30 - 12.30 Even better team performance I

10.30 - 11.30 Working in small teams to find suggestions for overcoming hindrances to better performance .

11.30 - 12.45 Re-form large group to discuss and finalise actions.

12.45 - 1.30 Lunch

1.30 - 3.10 Even better team performance II

1.30 - 2.15 Working in small teams to find suggestions for overcoming hindrances to better performance.

2.15 - 3.15 Re-form large group to discuss and finalise actions.

3.10 - 3.15 Depart for outdoor activities

Selection of archery, quad bike, clay pigeon shooting, hovercraft

7.15 Dinner - evening free

Day Two

8.30 - 10.15 Even better team performance III

8.30 - 9.00 Working in small teams to find suggestions for overcoming hindrances to better performance.

9.00 - 10.00 Re-form large group to discuss and finalise actions.

10.00 - 10.30 Wash-up of remaining hindrances

Appointing a “chaser”

Set date for brief follow-up meeting in about 6 - 8 weeks

10.30 - 10.45 Tea/ coffee

10.45 - 12.30 Effective Leadership and Motivation

• What is it that really builds loyalty even when the “going gets tough”?
• What really motivates people?
• Why do people work - even when they are not paid to?
• What do most people want in a “boss” (and by implication a colleague)?

12.30 Lunch and/or depart