A Team Builder Should Create a Structure

Working as a Team is Not a Game

We believe working as a team should be fun without anyone playing games, so that is how we do team building: fun, but no games. Scientists say team design has a much higher impact on measurable team performance than day-to-day coaching, and personality plays a much smaller role than managers have been told. So we harness the power of team structure by forging agreements among team members on how they will work together and do their work. Depending on your team's challenges you will get higher and better output, fewer conflicts, happier customers, and lower costs, among other benefits. Instead of one day of fun and games, you and your team get permanent changes that ease your working lives.

Simply stated, The SuddenTeams™ Program from TeamTrainers gives your group the characteristics of a high-performance team according to science, in months instead of the years it usually takes. Unlike others who claim to be team builders but really sell entertainment, we guarantee measurable positive changes in the way your group behaves. That's because our method is based on findings from decades of small group research.

The program works in any group of four or more, because small-group dynamics are the same regardless of a group's function or industry. Of course, we customize the content for your team's level in the company, tasks, educational background, and challenges.

True Team Building Creates a Structure

We provide true team building resulting in a structure of agreements. With our guidance to make the process as quick and easy as possible, your team creates:

• A Team Charter showing the team's agreements on its direction, measurable goals, rules, roles, and internal procedures.
• Systems to ensure accountability among the team members to each other.
• Practice with formal techniques that improve decision-making.
• Updated procedures or diagrams for the team's critical work processes.
• A communications plan to help team members and stakeholders get the information they need before they need it.
• A continuous improvement plan for added value year after year.
• Ongoing practice and coaching to ensure the above plans are followed, techniques and systems are used, and measurable changes occur in how people behave.

For a detailed list, see "Team Structure for High Performance."

Leading Change Step by Step

The SuddenTeams Assessment

The assessment industry has become a dominant player in organizational development even though the apparent impact of assessments on team performance has nothing to do with the tests. Scientific studies suggest that the discussions triggered by the tests are what create the change. Our process saves you money by skipping the unnecessary and expensive step of detailed individual assessments. Instead, ours is focused on determining your team structure needs and customizing a solution. A trained team builder:

• Looks over all documents you have on the team and its challenges.
• Interviews you, the team leader if different, and key team members and stakeholders.
• Talks with any team member you think will resist changes, to build buy-in.
• Observes a team meeting.
• Provides a 10-minute survey form to specify weaknesses and establish a baseline for proving return on investment (ROI).
• Compares the elements the team has in place to what teamwork science says it should have.
• Produces a menu of recommended changes for you to choose from.

Generally the Assessment takes about four hours on-site plus our preparation, analysis and report-writing time. You are charged a flat fee based on four hours at our normal rate (plus expenses) even though it takes longer than that.

If you already have a high-functioning team, you may only need an on-site class or limited team coaching to address specific issues. We'll tell you: We don't have time to waste, and won't risk our A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau by wasting your money. However, most teams have only a small fraction of the recommended tools in place, and thus can get high ROI through the comprehensive program.

Training and Coaching

The team builder:

• Comes into your regular team meetings, or separate weekly meetings if you want to move faster, and guides the team in creating the structure above. Though we prefer being there physically, virtual facilitation is possible.
• Works directly with the team leader, team manager (if the team is or will be self-directed), and the human resources department to share suggestions for leading an empowered team.
• Provides coaching in the meetings and remotely to make sure the changes become habits.

Follow-Up Coaching

Research into adult learning shows you have to follow up on training through regular contact with each learner to make the learning "stick." Otherwise, within three weeks to two months, most behavior changes disappear. That's why we provide a year of unlimited phone and e-mail coaching for the manager, leader, and every team member at no additional cost.

Getting Started

Contact us right now for a free, 30-minute consultation.