COMMUNICATION COACHING to Strengthen and Fine Tune Your Interactions, Influence, and Innovation:
Workshops for intact working groups or cross-functional teams
Mental frameworks can provide structure for insightful team discussions. Many times
people are taught about root cause analysis and problem solving tools in school, but not necessarily how to manage the conversations that they generate. Making room for all
ideas and opinions that emerge, especially widely differing ideas, can lead to important,
huge changes in creativity and true innovation. And today, teams are expected to be
entrepreneurial and - at the very least - to come up with new ways to improve their
customers' experiences.
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGING WORKPLACE SITUATIONS that teams / organizations might face?
people are taught about root cause analysis and problem solving tools in school, but not necessarily how to manage the conversations that they generate. Making room for all
ideas and opinions that emerge, especially widely differing ideas, can lead to important,
huge changes in creativity and true innovation. And today, teams are expected to be
entrepreneurial and - at the very least - to come up with new ways to improve their
customers' experiences.
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGING WORKPLACE SITUATIONS that teams / organizations might face?
Rakesh is the CEO of a successful start-up. His company of four years has come up with exciting new ideas that already benefit people worldwide. He wants to maintain the lively, creative energy of his teams, and he would like them to have strategic tools for quickly building consensus, discussing issues thoroughly - respectfully and without blame - and making well-considered team decisions. He learned about important frameworks in school, but not necessarily how to manage the conversations that arise when using them. He wants to provide his teams with tools that they can use intentionally to be even more effective and efficient, without sacrificing their creative energies.
Ellen, a human resources manager, has noticed a decrease in individual morale and team effectiveness in a particular work team in her company, and she is concerned that soon they might lose good people. She has seen that some people seem to dominate team meetings, criticize others' ideas, and mistake sarcastic comments for genuine humor. She would like everyone on the team to have tools and strategies for building a strong, positive, effective team, where each person's ideas are valued and all team members have an influential say.
Patrick, is the manager of a collaborative, effective team. Recently two new people have been hired, and he wants them to have a good beginning and for the team to work effectively together from the start as they begin addressing important strategic initiatives. He is considering a brief, tailored training on specific skills as part of the "launch" of their extensive project and to give them skills that will be useful as they move forward.
Ellen, a human resources manager, has noticed a decrease in individual morale and team effectiveness in a particular work team in her company, and she is concerned that soon they might lose good people. She has seen that some people seem to dominate team meetings, criticize others' ideas, and mistake sarcastic comments for genuine humor. She would like everyone on the team to have tools and strategies for building a strong, positive, effective team, where each person's ideas are valued and all team members have an influential say.
Patrick, is the manager of a collaborative, effective team. Recently two new people have been hired, and he wants them to have a good beginning and for the team to work effectively together from the start as they begin addressing important strategic initiatives. He is considering a brief, tailored training on specific skills as part of the "launch" of their extensive project and to give them skills that will be useful as they move forward.
Artifacts to inspire creativity on work table at AutoDesk in San Francisco.
How do Greater Than Ever personalized coaching
services work to partner with teams?
• Courtesy consultation to determine which tools /
strategies might be helpful
• Customized workshops for intact work groups or
newly-forming or cross-functional teams
• Ongoing follow-up and coaching support
What are some possible focus areas?
• Communicating skills for building positive,
collaborative, and productive teams
• Creative thinking tools for innovative teams
• Facilitating skills and tools for building consensus
and making informed team decisions
services work to partner with teams?
• Courtesy consultation to determine which tools /
strategies might be helpful
• Customized workshops for intact work groups or
newly-forming or cross-functional teams
• Ongoing follow-up and coaching support
What are some possible focus areas?
• Communicating skills for building positive,
collaborative, and productive teams
• Creative thinking tools for innovative teams
• Facilitating skills and tools for building consensus
and making informed team decisions
For a look at a creative space that fosters innovative thinking, take a six-minute tour of the Stanford d.school with George Kembel, it's Executive Director, below. It will for sure compel you to buy more Post-Its, and you also may be inspired by the great ideas generated by the students and faculty.
