Team Dynamics and Development: Processes, Issues, and Skills

OVERVIEW:
It is always interesting to note that the ubiquity of teamwork is about equal to the difficulty members have in developing effective teams! As a corollary to the above statement, this workshop aims to go beyond the "structured exercise" approach to team development that is so commonly utilized to one that views work groups and teams as systems in process. This is an intensive experientially oriented three-day program spread over three consecutive months that focuses on understanding the processes, issues and skills for Team Development. Foundational to this program is implementing certain aspects of the 8 Factor Model ^TM (8FM) of Personal Effectiveness (see Leadership Module for descriptions) as it relates to Team Development. The overall objective of this workshop is to assist participants in attaining the tools to assess, improve, and expand team process and development knowledge, skills, and abilities. the learning strategy adopted to obtain this objective is Experience Compression Laboratory (ECL), a semi-structured learning milieu with opportunities to experience, reflect, and practice new behaviors. The outcome of the ECL is for participants to leave this series of three workshops better equipped to develop teams as a facilitator, a member, leader or a consultant. It is highly recommended that participants participate in all three of these programs for maximum benefit.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES:

• Assess your natural abilities
• Learn how to use your 23 natural abilities more systematically
• Learn how the Eight Factor Model of Development relates to team development
• Integrate your Personal Style Factors and Ability Battery data
• Develop and build your Team Development KSAs:
  • Learn and practice three basic team skills
  • Learn and practice five advanced team skills
  • Learn the top 5 team work roles you easily work from
• Learn the powerful and subtle processes and dynamics of teams and how to constructively capitalize on them.
• Use workshop tools to problem solve current team issues
• Apply your findings and results from the workshop to your work setting immediately.

Pre-work: Prior to the first workshop, participants will need to purchase and complete the Highlands Ability Battery. You will be asked to pay $90.00. This price is only available to current Saint Joseph's University students (including Leadership workshop participants). The battery typically retails for between $480-$650.

STRUCTURE:
In all of the workshops, Dr. Tavantzis will use a blend of brief lectures, experiential exercises, group work, and discussion along with many opportunities for practical applications of learning. Primarily, Experience Compression Laboratory (ECL) learning will be used to study our own formation and inner workings as a team as well as offering opportunities for skills practice and development.

Workshops emphasize practical application of models and methods presented. You will also have the opportunity to learn from participants with diverse backgrounds about how they develop and cope with team development. Dr. Tavantzis encourages immediate application of new knowledge and methods by making connections between models and techniques to business applications.

Workshop I: Introduction to the 8 Factor Model. Applications to Work Group and Teams. Thorough group review of your Highlands Ability Battery results. Using grouped data to understand teams. Three basic team skills. Introduction of Experience Compression Laboratory (ECL). Video-taped exercises and reviews. Opportunities for practice and applications. Homework assigned for Session 2.

Workshop II: Review findings from participant work teams. Review homework. Integrate Personal Style Factors. Expression Compression Laboratory (ECL). Videotape laboratory experience. Review video and provide opportunities for feedback. Learn and apply team ratings tool. Participants will have ample time for assessment, discussion, practice, and applications. Homework assignments.

Workshop III: Review homework exercises. ECL. Video review of role-plays and laboratory experience. Integration of learning. Development of a workplace team improvement plan.