Requirement : To resolve conflict and difficulties within the team and help team members to work effectively together. Communication was poor and there was a lack of trust among some team members. This inevitably impacted on their effectiveness as a team.
Solution : Two facilitated half-day sessions to address the issues.
Session 1 helped the team to identify and focus on their common purpose. This led to a key discussion that highlighted the need to be clearer about their team’s role within the larger organisation. The session also looked at interdependencies between team members, and encouraged them to think of themselves as a small network. Importantly, the facilitation enabled them to express what they appreciated about each other and what they needed from each other – this provided the foundation for improved relationships. Each team member agreed specific actions they would take to help the team as a whole.
Session 2 built on the positive results of the first session, which had helped the team to work much more effectively together, and to identify areas of agreement and difference. They shared their individual ideas about the team and used this discussion to develop a joint vision for the future. They agreed what they had to do to make this a reality, looked at the obstacles they were likely to face, and discussed how they would overcome them.
Outcome : After the sessions the team were able to work very successfully together, recognising problems that came from outside the group and helping their leader address those problems. In the words of their leader: ‘The workshops facilitated good discussion that highlighted dilemmas facing us as a team ... as a result I will work harder on how I communicate with staff and consider my relationship with senior management colleagues.’