We’ve heard about teams in the workplace for a long time. Odds are, you’ve been on one or perhaps even led one—but why are they essential? How can they be more productive? How do team leaders break down walls and get the team moving efficiently toward the same goal?
Today we’ll take a look at the benefits of team coaching, why it’s important, and how to use it most effectively.
At their core, the methods to be employed are at their root very straightforward:
- Agree on expectations and acceptable behaviors
- Agreed set of team goals
- Create an environment of transparency
- Linking team goals to organizational goals for overall success
- Reflection on how the team is progressing toward goals and employ constructive criticism among the team
The Institute of Coaching, McLean, Affiliate of Harvard Medical School cites the following benefits of team/organizational coaching: Organizational coaching aims at fostering positive, systemic transformation within organizations. It is frequently used to help organizations achieve strategic objectives, enhance leadership capability, and create culture change. Broader organizational needs are placed front and center, and the coaching is used to scale-up change across the enterprise. While there is overlap, this broader focus is in contrast to executive or leadership coaching which targets the individual’s development needs and more typically comprises standalone engagements.
To apply this method, let’s take it from the top. A project has been identified in upper management or key players in the organization. There are thoughts as to who should lead this initiative. Who would be a strong team leader who can take members of this team and collaborate with them to reach the goals?
Potential team members are identified. They are invited and gather for their first meeting. Be it in person or virtual, this is the time to lay groundwork and see how the puzzle pieces fit together. It’s the planning stage, the discovery stage, and the stage at which the best possible human capital are introduced to the concept.
As time moves on, the team may experience pitfalls. There may be personality and work style clashes, journeys down the rabbit hole that accomplish little to nothing, or perhaps even a path laid out that seems disjointed. Your team has splintered just when you need them solidly cohesive, even despite good intentions. Now what?
This is where coaching on a team level can be particularly beneficial—and could be avoided with the implementation of a team coach from the start. The key is to allow a coach to instill what a “team” really is and how to work within those parameters. An effective team coach can assist the team in navigating the course in an effective way that leads to positive outcomes.
As such, the team itself has to be open to an outside perspective. Resistance can and will emerge. Pivoting that resistance into cohesiveness is a special talent, and one that an effective coach embodies.
Remember: As coaching in itself is an art, the expansion into team coaching incorporates the challenge of creating a team that will maximize performance with an eye towards meeting organizational goals. Thus, successful team coaching leads to sustainable success in reaching long-term goals.
For more information about how Marshall Brown and Associates can support your team, please feel free to phone 202.669.2065 or email info@mbrownassociates.com
The best way to have a good year is by living life on a daily basis, letting the good days accumulate, one by one. And it doesn’t have to be New Year’s to resolve to have a good year. Start anytime. Today, for instance.
- Take time, slow down. Be present in your life and mindful of the present.
- Care for your body, eat well, exercise, treat yourself to loving, nurturing self-care.
- Spend quality time with family and friends. Communicate, keep in touch. Say I love you. Tell people you appreciate them.
- Take time throughout the day to renew yourself. Take a walk, read a poem or a good book, listen to music (really listen); bring beauty into your life. On a monthly basis, take a whole day for yourself — play, treat yourself to something you want to do; retreat from your daily life. Mark these special days on your calendar (in ink) so you’ll be certain to take them.
- Clean up what needs to be cleaned up. Make amends, fix what’s broken, clear away clutter, forgive what needs to be forgiven and let go.
- Commit to a project you really want to do or to learning something new or attaining something you want. Commitment is the first step. Then set achievable goals and work toward them on a daily basis.
- Give yourself to a cause, volunteer at a nonprofit organization, a community group, your church or lend a hand to an individual or family who could use your help.
- Practice your spirituality in whatever form you express it, on a daily basis.
- Laugh every day.
- Take time to dream.
It is tempting to make grand New Year’s resolutions, but as we all know, many of these fall by the wayside too quickly leading to disappointment. The key to maintaining promises you make to yourself is to take one step at a time. When you create achievable goals, they are easier to reach and each success builds momentum to spur you on. So don’t berate yourself if you fall at the first hurdle; gather your thoughts, take a deep breath and start again. You will soon realize you have made great progress and are living life to the fullest. Share your favorite tip with us on Twitter and be sure to tag @marshallbcoach. Stand out by building your brand HERE