Teams

Teams are complex structures. Not only do they comprise individuals with different worldviews, working styles, strengths and blindspots, but they also house the spaces between – the relational dynamics, the collective energy, the spoken and unspoken rhetoric, the exchange between the leader and the team. One of the greatest organisational assets is its high-functioning teams, and the health of the team is essential to its performance.

Every team is highly unique, so my Team Encounters are always a bespoke design. You can expect a Team Encounter to:

Develop psychological safety within which to explore team dynamics
Improve trust and working relationships
Reveal and reduce organisational politics
Boost collaboration & team productivity
Create clarity & engagement about purpose & priorities
Expose gaps and blindspots
Contribute to the development of talent
Play an important role in enabling change
Develop the team’s ability to engage in productive conflict and have high impact conversations

Before I work with a team, I need to understand the context within which it operates and even more importantly, the individuals in that team. More often that not, the team members will have had initial personality profiling work done with me and some or all might be engaged in one-on-one coaching.

If we have Enneagram profiles for each team member, I will draw an Enneagram Team Report, which incorporates the profiles of each member of the team to provide:

Team Centres of Expression
Enneagram Team Style and Values
Enneagram Style Impact on Relationships
Planning, Tasks and Preferred Goals
Unhealthy Team Behaviours
Development Stages
Secondary Style Influences
Underdeveloped Styles
Collective Strain Profile
Interaction Styles
Conflict Styles
Team Instincts
Leadership Style & the Dynamics
between the Team and the Leader

In order to further understand team health, I draw on Patrick Lencioni’s excellent work. His team at The Table Group (www.tablegroup.com) has developed assessments and processes that aim to improve team health and cohesiveness. I use The Table Group’s Team Assessment, based on Lencioni’s best-selling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, to reveal the extent of the following dysfunctions:

Absence of Trust
Fear of Conflict
Lack of Commitment
Avoidance of Accountability
Inattention to Results

Once we understand the status of the team’s health, I can better design a process that will address the issues the team might be having. It also allows us to measure the progress of the work, because the assessment can be taken multiple times.

See what clients say about the Team Encounter

“I was skeptical, as I always am, but when you have a super-smart, experienced and intuitive person like Joanne leading the process, you’ll derive far more benefit than simply trying to garner the nuggets yourself. I was so impressed with how Jo managed the entire process that I suggested my Group Exco embark on the same journey. They in turn were so impressed, they each engaged Jo in working with the Mancos of their operating companies. Across board we have seen hugely positive results and the feedback has been truly outstanding. Beyond that, Jo has helped certain individuals enormously in their personal growth journeys outside of “strict” agency life. She has helped them get onto a constructive path of positive growth, where their challenges may have been beyond the realm of the formal workplace or their careers. But naturally their work productivity was also dramatically enhanced through her interventions.”

“It was a truly remarkable experience and we loved every moment. Having been through various leadership development programmes throughout my career, I can honestly say this is the best one I’ve ever had the privilege of participating in. I would recommend to anyone that they partner with Joanne in this process.”

“The feedback was unanimous – our time with Jo is the deepest and most meaningful work we have done together as a team. It’s been quite incredible to see how the team dynamic has shifted – we’ve become closer, more understanding and more honest with each other.”

“Jo was amazing. She delivered way more value and impact than expected. So in my books that’s a 9 - would have been a 10 if I didn’t have to sit on a carpet and get a cramp in my leg! In all seriousness, loved it. She was brilliant. 10!”

“I have had the great pleasure of working with Joanne Smollan. Her energy is infectious and her creativity boundless. She has the ability to assimilate what one needs assistance with, understand it and without fail delivers work that is completely in line with a business’s objectives and needs. She has added so much value to the work I am currently doing and I see her as a major stakeholder in our business. I have no doubt in her ability to add value in any project that she gets involved in.”