Clarity

Coaching begins for individuals and teams with three steps:

1. Problem identification

2. Terms of engagement

3. Goal articulation

Who knows what's right?
I begin the problem identification process by learning about what works well. Working with my client(s), we describe the qualities and characteristics the team possesses that forward the goals and aspirations of the effort. These descriptions also apply to individuals.

Playing by making the rules
When we understand the individual and team attributes that work well, and the problems and barriers the team faces, we begin to build clarity about how to engage with each other. We learn engagement skills in our team coaching meetings, and practice using them on the work floor in the real world.

Sometimes learning engagement skills starts with groundrules that give people within the team the power to self-monitor. I've learned one groundrule that is really effective for teams: We Test Our Assumptions.

A team can reel in a member who goes off on an angry rant based on a set of ill-founded conclusions simply by asking, "How did you test that assumption?" Or, "Is that a fact, or did you assume that?"

Soccer, baseball or golf
Once the team feels clear about the problem and terms of engagement, I ask: Where are you relative to where you want to be? This question begins goal articulation by using a group assessment process that produces a description of team skills and skill deficits.

The description also identifies what causes people in the group to go home stressed, and if anyone is losing sleep and why. We study the team dynamic and learn how the members play into it.

Imagine winning every day
When the team identifies its preferred outcome, or state of being, that becomes the team's goal. We take time to articulate how the team members want their reality, and we project it into a future state.

Some teams fail to change their organizations successfully because they use past experience as their basis. I help teams define the future by distinctly separating it from the past. This may create a measurement challenge, but it eliminates past baggage that sometimes interferes with progress.

My experience has convinced me that team coaching works. During the past two years, I have worked with over 50 teams in businesses as varied as retail and health care. Whether I work with one team member, or three or 150 members, I have seen teams become more productive, harmonious and effective. Everyone benefits from more sleep, less stress, fewer conflicts, and winning results.

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