In this episode we talk about team coaching and discuss the difference between team coaching and team facilitation. We share some stories about how team coaching can help teams be more effective. Examples that may indicate a team needs coaching include things like, a team being dysfunctional, not getting the results needed or finding that decision making is problematic.

Peter M. Senge, the author of The Fifth Discipline says “It is amazing how often you come across teams with an average intelligence of over 120, but the team at a collective intelligence of about 60.” So it’s rare that you come across a leadership team that won’t benefit from coaching.

We discuss why team coaching can be so powerful in shifting the performance of an organisation. It has been said that team coaching is the future, and we reflect on how coaching an entire leadership team – getting them really aligned around their purpose and working effectively together – can help shift an organisation more quickly than coaching individuals separately.

We touch on some of the norms that it is regularly productive to work on, such as operating rhythm, decision-making and accountability and some simple exercises that any team can adopt. We also explore how HR might identify the need for and justify the investment for team coaching.

We also look at the practicalities of team coaching. One or two coaches? Does the team coach work with the individuals in the team? Is there specific training and accreditation?

Resources:

• Information about Team Coaching - https://courageousdevelopment.co.uk/coaching/team-coaching/
• Bruce Tuckman: Model of Team Development - https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
• Ruth Wageman: Senior Leadership Teams - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Senior-Leadership-Teams-Takes-Common/dp/1422103366
• Amy Edmondon: Psychological Safety - https://hbr.org/podcast/2019/01/creating-psychological-safety-in-the-workplace

Email us at info@thecoachingquestion.com