COLLABORATIVE TEAM SKILLS
Benefits
Your organization will experience these outcomes:
- More caring, empowered, and positive attitudes among work groups
- Collaborative norms (for dealing with issues, problems, and conflicts)
- Increased responsibility within teams (more self-directing and self-managing)
- Constructive ways to manage negative feelings
- Higher productivity and more efficient work processes
- A common language for talking and listening to each other more effectively
Program Content
Every group operates within an interdependent organizational system; all parts are important to the whole. COLLABORATIVE TEAM SKILLS begins by focusing on attitude - caring and not caring. The program shows how each member's attitude is communicated to and impacts all the parts/players who make or break your organization - the BOSS network:
Business (mission/results)
Others (people immediately involved)
Self
Stakeholders (people peripherally involved)
1. The Information Wheel: All issues, problems, and conflicts share something in common - an informational structure. The Information Wheel captures the five different kinds of information at work in any situation. The Wheel is the foundation for the communication skills taught in the program. Members learn six talking skills for discussing issues more clearly, directly, and completely.
2. The Listening Cycle: Co-workers often press for agreement, solutions, or action before they understand the problem fully. This is particularly true in fast-paced and conflicted situations. Five listening skills help group members go efficiently to the core of an issue. The skills reduce stress, build relationship, and create accurate understanding. Members also learn the Listening Cycle, a strategy to gain and ensure quality information.
3. Mapping Issues: Group members identify and discuss their typical patterns for dealing with issues. Then they learn how to Map Issues - a collaborative team process - for making decisions, solving problems, or resolving conflicts. Mapping Issues combines the six talking and five listening skills. Members review their current group issues and choose one important issue to resolve as they learn the process.
4. Styles of Communication: How members talk and listen to each other determines the quality of information exchanged and reflects the norms operating within the group for dealing with issues. This framework expands team awareness about the styles they use and the positive and negative impacts of each style on their work. Groups also develop more explicit and effective norms for negotiating issues.
Program Uses
Use the COLLABORATIVE TEAM SKILLS for:
- Team building
- Staff development
- Implementation of self-directed work teams
- Group tune-up/re-alignment
Program Methods
The program includes:
- Brief conceptual presentations
- Skill and coaching demonstrations
- Practice exercises with real issues
- Self-assessments and action plans
These methods integrate new skills and norms into the life of the group.
Program Materials
Each team member receives a Participant Packet, containing the following three items:
- COLLABORATIVE TEAM SKILLS Workbook includes: an introduction; four chapters on frameworks, skills, and processes; a follow-up applications section; plus guidelines and worksheets (8 ½ x 11 in., 136 pages).
- Tabletop Skills Mat displays the Information Wheel and the Listening Cycle for prompting individual skill use (8 ¼ x 14 ½ in. canvas).
- Information Wheel Pad extends use of Wheel to process issues.
- Set of Pocket Cards (4 cards) reinforces concepts and skills.
Teams also receive large Information Wheel and Listening Cycle floor skills mats for practice and application. (Each floor mat is 30 x 30 in., canvas, not shown in photo.)
Special Program Features
The program focuses on intact work groups.
- Participants learn on real - not role-play - issues.
- Practice exercises incorporate skills mat for accelerated learning of the 11 core skills.
- Team members learn ways to coach and support one another as they apply new skills and processes.
- Participants develop more whole systems thinking - considering customers, clients, vendors, other departments, and stakeholders.
- Four training designs provide flexibility for organizational needs. *See below
FORMATS:
Following are four possible formats for the Team Skills Workshop. My recommendation is format #4.
1. 7 Hours on 1 Day
* 4 hours - Introduction, Information Wheel & Listening Cycle
* 3 hours - Mapping issues
Advantages: takes less time, concentrates on skill learning.
Disadvantages: no application time between sessions, doesn't include "Styles of Communication."
2. 10 Hours on 2 Days
Day 1 * 4 hours - Introduction, Information Wheel & Listening Cycle
* 3 hours - Mapping issues
Day 2 * 3 hours - Styles of Communication
Advantages: covers all parts of the program, provides some time between sessions for application, and uses a concentrated day session for skill learning.
3. 8 Hours on 2 Days
Day 1 * 4 hours - Introduction, Information Wheel & Listening Cycle
Day 2 * 4 hours - Mappings Issues & Styles of Communication (excluding exercises)
Advantages: covers all parts of the program, provides some time for application of skills between sessions, other business activities can be scheduled (or resumed) on that same day.
Disadvantages: excludes practice exercises on "Styles of Communication."
4. 12 Hours on 4 Days
Day 1 * 3 hours - Introduction & Information Wheel
Day 2 * 3 hours - Listening Cycle
Day 3 * 3 hours - Mapping Issues
Day 4 * 3 hours - Styles of Communication
Advantages: covers all parts of the program, includes time for thorough skill learning, provides application time between each session, frees the day for other activities.
It would be possible to do 2 or 2 1/2 hour sessions using this model, but the consistent feedback I receive (on evaluations and from participants' comments) is: the time being coached on the mats was the most valuable - in other words, doing it to ensure proper learning. The more time per session would insure more time per participant to be on the mats.
Client Quotes:
"When I assumed the position of Sr. Vice President and Gen Manager, I inherited a very young group of Jr. Managers. I was very pleased with the work that Carri did in building teamwork through communication skills. This proved to enhance our ability to function as a high performance team and have people effectively communicate with each other. I highly recommend her to any company looking to build effective communication routes with their teams."
George Maibach
Sr. Vice President
Bentley Mills
Industry, CA
"My communication & conflict resolution skill level has skyrocketed since working with Carri. I now can hear and deal with the real issues brought to me by students, parents and staff."
Melissa Fackler, Vice Principal
Alvarado Intermediate School
Rowland Heights, CA
"I was amazed at how easily my professional life had gotten off track. With communication skills training and professional coaching, I refocused, which resulted in increasing all my key employees productivity and profit."
Anthony F. Richard
Vice President
ACP Noxtat
Santa Ana, CA
"Carri brings refreshing humor and truth that captures her audiences. She brings wisdom, experience and guidance as well as communication skills that are applicable to all families, individuals and the work place. I highly endorse her."
Gail Hatmaker
Family Ministries
First Baptist Church
Windermere, FL
"The workshop series on 'personality identification' provided us with skills to better accept others, and ourselves which enhanced our working together as a team. IT WAS FUN!"
Burl Hunt, Principal
Alvarado Intermediate School
Rowland Heights, CA
High School and Middle School Administrators
Pomona Unified School District, California
- It was beneficial to work with other administrators in a friendly atmosphere.
- I enjoyed having colleagues interact in a meaningful way with one another.
- Most valuable was the coaching during "hands-on" practice.
- I need this and can use it at home. The listening skills were most beneficial.
- This provided a new way to work with school site group!
- I liked your enthusiasm. I learned a new way to of communicating. Thanks.
- I liked the examples given by the instructors - got the sense that they really practice what they preach!
Upper Level Management Team
Bentley Mills, Inc., City of Industry, CA
- Most valuable was using real life experiences and learning how to listen better.
- Learning to think before talking.
- Getting myself to slow down and listen without thinking of what I'm going to say next.
- The results of the course interest me most. I'm looking forward to meeting with my peers and finding solutions.
- Listening skills were the most beneficial
Alvarado Middle School, Rowland Heights, CA
Vice Principal and Chosen Staff Members
- I leaned the importance of developing good listening skills and giving feedback
- This is powerful in that I can use the skills to be more effective personally and professionally.
- Learning how to actually listen
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