1. How’s your team doing? Rate the work characterization with the stage of group development:

 

Major components	Points	Grading detail
Participation by team members		1-Shaping: team is in new or rebuilding stages   2-Stirring: toxic or almost hostile environment exists   3-Stretching: there’s some connectivity and beginning process of healthy   4-Streaming: productive, overall job satisfaction, things are getting done
Active listening and effective speaking
Brainstorming, creativity and sharing of ideas
Disagreements/conflicts are dealt with in healthy ways
High trust and confidence
Feedback is honest, frequent and constructive
Assignments and tasks accepted and acted on
Team self-improvements are made
Goals are clear, concise, consistent and communicated
Individual/team achievements recognized and praised
Add up.   Divide by 10.   Total:

 

 

 

2. Identify the top three areas from above that you need to focus on and place an * on that line.

 

 

3. What’s your expectation of having group activities?

 

• Fill some time
• Create some fun and excitement
• Fix my attitude problems
• “Gel” the team
• Transition my “woes” to winners
• Attempting to identify traits

 

4. Notice: group activities do not replace _POOR_ accountability, leadership, performance, policy, procedures and/or practices! 

Dysfunctional teams are generally due to serious personal issues, which should be dealt with directly. In these situations, intervention and mediation are what's required - NOT team activities.

The purpose of games is to get people to _THINK__ together, as a team, so that everyone in the group has input and shares ideas. When we have input we have ownership, and when more people have ownership there is more success.

The question is not will the team building activity impact your team. The issue is: will the fundamental principles be allowed to be interwoven into their regular work environment by the management/leadership of your organization?

 

If we don’t relay what we learn from the “play”…then it was only a temporary escape from the hectic world of work.

 

 

5. Effective teachers target the:   Head            Heart              Hands

 (ask for our desk reference for this topic)

 

6. Preparation Points

 

A. Make directions clear, repeat them

B. Have the group repeat them

C. Encourage all to participate

D. Announce time limit

E. Don’t give away too many clues on some of the team building items

 

7. Processing Points

 

A. What was the initial reaction of the group?

B. How well did the group cope with this challenge?

C. What skills did it take to be successful as a group?

D. What creative solutions were suggested and how were they received?

E. What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group?

F. What roles did people play?  

G. What did each group member learn about him/her self as an individual?  

H. What other situations (e.g., at school, home or work) are like this activity?