Team Coaching

The normal progression of a team consists of four stages, starting with forming - where teammates are introduced, rules are established and objectives are decided upon. Next, the team moves to storming - where personalities clash and disagreements occur. This is acompletely normal part of team progression, although some teams have a higher degree of storming than others.
After storming comes norming - where the conflicts have been settled and teammates learn how to work together efficiently and effectively. The final stage is performing, which is where teams start producing results and accomplishing the objectives they started out to achieve.
Sometimes teams get stuck in the storming stage or never really move past norming into performing. Or sometimes a team may be performing then slip backwards into a storming phase if conflict arises. Every time the team adds or loses a new member, it must start back at the forming stage again.
An effective coach can assist with all four of these levels so a team doesn’t stay in one phase longer than necessary, moving the team to the performing phase more quickly.

What do Team Coaches Help With?

A team coach will assist a team in staying on track to accomplish their goal. Depending on your coach and your situation, this could include:

• Facilitating team meetings
• Establishing expectations through a team charter
• Assisting with creation of an action plan
• Ensuring each team member is clear on his or her role(s)
• Maintaining accountability for individuals
• Managing any conflicts that arise
• Confronting and addressing team-busters like groupthink, micromanaging, social loafing, and unresolved conflict
• Moving the team towards completion of project on time and on budget

It is important to know that an effective coach does not need to be an expert in your industry. A coach does not give advice or solutions. A great team coach will be skilled at active listening and be able to ask curious questions without judgement or trying to sway the group decision to one way of thinking. A team coach will ask questions that help the group decide what is best for the team.

What are the Benefits of Team Coaching?

Team coaching can provide multiple benefits to the individual, the team and the organization. Depending on the set-up of your team coaching environment and the needs and goals of your organization, there are many benefits that could be realized.

Benefits to the individual

• Learn about other team members in a safe environment
• Share perspectives in a safe environment
• Be part of a winning team
• Be more engaged at work

Benefits to the team

• Establish a team charter
• Create an action plan
• Maintain accountability
• Showcase individual strengths within the team
• Resolve conflicts effectively
• Collaborate towards a common goal

Benefits to the organization

• Less expensive than one-on-one coaching
• Experience effective teams that meet their goals
• Move the company forward
• Increase employee retention