Brenda Paz wrote: "I am about to begin Team Building and am searching for
any help..."
I have coached a number of teams through The Team Learning Lab, which is a
great tool to help "build" teams. The Team Learning Lab is a four module
program that is designed for teams to work through in a flexible manner at
their workplace (can do in 2 days, half days, 2-3 hour increments). The
program includes the use of a video featuring commentary by Peter Senge,
discussion of the experience at Ford Motor by former managers Nick Zenuik
and Fred Simon, and a running example and excellent illustrations of
various concepts like the Ladder of Inference, etc..
The following describes the Team Learning Lab but you could structure a
similar program yourself.
The team first learns, and practices together, some basic organizational
learning principles. The team members focus on gaining an understanding of
their own mental models and learn how to create open, honest, meaningful
conversations with others using tools such as the Left-Hand Column, the
Ladder of Inference, and Advocacy and Inquiry Protocols). The team then
learns about and practices systems thinking, applying directly to issues
meaningful to the team.
Now that the team has some specifics tools and have practiced applying
these skills to their own work, they then tackle creating a shared vision.
The team vision is critical in helping the team identify the specific
outcomes necessary for achieving their vision. Identifying outcomes helps
focus the team on examining their tasks -- what they're doing now that
helps achieve the vision, tasks they're doing that don't contribute to
their vision, what they're not doing, etc. The Alignment Matrix they
create also identifies leverage points, inhibitors, enablers, and becomes
the team's roadmap.
Participants report that what they like about the Team Learning Lab is
that they are coached through the program, not "taught," they work
directly with their team members applying their new skills to current work
issues, and leave with some issues resolved, a work plan, team
groundrules...in other words, some real results!
Usually the program is completed over time so that there is ample time to
practice and reflect, then add new information and skills, practice and
reflect, etc... The "creating a shared vision" module is particularly
powerful -- and I think that is largely due to the quality of
conversations that people are having because of their new awareness of
mental models and their application of LO tools.
BTW, Organizations can develop their own internal Team Learning Lab
coaches and have used it to just develop specific teams or to bring LO
awareness and LO skills to an entire workforce in a meaningful, but
consistent, manner (and cost-effective).
If you are interested in the content of this program or the team learning
process, I'd be happy to talk to you.
Good luck to you.
Claire
Claire McCarty Kilian, Ph.D.
MR Communication Consultants
16700 County Hwy UN
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
715-726-0561 (phone)
715-726-0563 (fax)
ClaireKil@aol.com
Offering "The Team Learning Lab"...
a practical program to improve results through systems thinking,
mental models, and shared vision.
--Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>