Team Repair ®

At times, a work team may experience significant conflict, frustration, hurt, or low morale due to relationship difficulties or patterns of group dysfunction.

The Team Repair® process is a valuable investment of time and energy for any distressed work group wanting to get things "back on track." It provides team members with an opportunity to voice concerns, express opinions, and get the real issues "on the table" in a safe, respectful, and professional manner. The process provides practical Powertools® and techniques to manage problems that impair teamwork and guides the team through the steps required to work toward resolution of their current issues.

A safe, comfortable environment is always created to encourage team members to speak up. It is vitally important that every member feels heard, supported, and valued and that no one ever feels attacked during any phase of the Team Repair® process.

Objectives

• Identify themes, patterns, and team dynamics that have been a barrier to working effectively as a high performance team
• Explore the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to the team's success and to its breakdown
• Develop and practice skills to effectively communicate, resolve team conflict, solve problems, and make decisions
• Work collaboratively to process team issues, conflicts, and problems in a dignified and respectful manner
• Develop a written Code of Conduct (Standards of Behaviour) agreed to by all team members-to be used as a guide for ongoing team interactions
• Establish a Team Action Plan identifying tasks and strategies to improve the team's productivity and effectiveness
• Each team member is encouraged to create a Personal Action Plan for Change guided by the personal self-assessment inventory in the Team Repair® Reference Manual

Who should participate?

The entire intact team, plus stakeholders who are involved in daily interactions with the team

The Team Repair® Process

Step 1. Team Health Assessment

To gain a clear understanding of the issues, each team member is asked to complete a confidential Team Health Questionnaire. To ensure candid responses and full disclosure, each team member will independently mail his/her completed questionnaire directly to the Team Repair® facilitator.

The facilitator analyses the data and produces a report identifying areas in which the team is excelling, the specific issues the team is currently facing, the patterns of dysfunction existing in the team, and the potential causes of the barriers to being a fully functioning team.

Step 2. Team Repair® Workshop

Using the information gathered from the Team Health Assessment, a specially designed workshop is developed focusing on the specific needs identified by the team. Part of the power of the workshop lies in everyone hearing the same information at the same time ensuring all team members understand what poor behaviour looks like, which tends to lead to self monitoring. Topics may include:

• repairing and re-establishing trust and respect
• developing effective communicating skills
• understanding and respecting individual differences
• addressing erroneous assumptions and misperceptions
• problem solving and decision making
• setting and honouring professional workplace boundaries
• adapting to organizational change
• letting go of the past and moving forward

Note: Experience has shown that a minimum two-day workshop is required to introduce and allow the participants to apply the basic techniques to start addressing their issues. More days may be recommended based on the number and severity of issues presented.

Step 2a. Mediation (optional)

The Team Repair® process may uncover areas of interpersonal clashes or unresolved conflict between certain individuals within the group. Such relationship breakdown can hamper the entire team's functioning. A neutral third party may be needed to help clarify issues, stimulate mutual problem-solving efforts the between co-workers, and resolve the conflict.

Step 2b. Coaching (optional)

Individualized coaching may be required to assist some team members in recognising how they may be contributing to the team's dysfunction or sabotaging their own efforts in being a productive and fulfilled team member. Using the team member's Personal Action Plan for Change (developed during the workshop) as a starting point, the coach guides and assists the individual in applying the PowerTools® to their specific work situations.

3. Follow-up Team Health Assessment

Approximately three months after the workshop, a follow-up Team Health Assessment questionnaire directs team members to assess their personal and team's progress, as well as, voice their outstanding concerns in a safe anonymous way. Using the initial Team Health Assessment as a baseline, this step of the process measures the progress of the team.

4. Support Workshop

Informed by the Follow-up Team Health Assessment, the Support Workshop is designed to address issues that have arisen or that are still unresolved. It also provides another opportunity for the participants to practice and refine their interpersonal skills.