What do you do if your team building efforts are falling short and need a boost from external experts?

1 Identify Needs

Before reaching out to external experts, take a step back to assess your team's needs. Consider the specific areas where your team struggles. Is it communication, trust, or perhaps problem-solving? Understanding these pain points will guide you in selecting an expert whose skills and experience directly address your team's shortcomings. This targeted approach ensures that the intervention is relevant and impactful, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution that may not resonate with your team.

2 Choose Experts

Choosing the right expert is pivotal to revitalizing your team building efforts. Look for professionals with a proven track record in facilitating team growth and resolving conflicts similar to those your team faces. They should be adept at creating safe, engaging environments where team members feel comfortable sharing and learning. The best experts will not only offer immediate solutions but also equip your team with tools and techniques for sustained improvement.

3 Set Goals

Clarity in goal-setting is essential when working with an external expert. You must articulate what success looks like for your team. Whether it's improved communication, increased productivity, or better conflict resolution, having clear objectives will help the expert tailor their approach. Moreover, it provides a benchmark against which to measure the effectiveness of the intervention. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) to ensure the best outcome.

4 Plan Intervention

Planning the intervention with your chosen expert is a collaborative process. It should be tailored to fit your team's schedule, work culture, and the goals you've set. The expert will likely have a methodology or set of exercises they prefer, but it's important that these are adapted to suit your team's context. This planning phase is also the time to address any logistical concerns, such as the venue, materials needed, and how to integrate the intervention into your team's regular workflow.

5 Execute Plan

When it's time to execute the plan, ensure that all team members are on board and understand the purpose of the intervention. The expert's role is to guide the process, but the success largely depends on your team's willingness to participate and embrace change. During the execution phase, observe how your team interacts with the expert and with each other, taking note of any positive shifts in dynamics or areas that may need further attention.

6 Evaluate Impact

After the intervention, evaluate its impact on your team. Gather feedback from team members about their experience and any changes they've noticed in team dynamics. Assess whether the initial goals were met and identify any new areas of improvement that emerged. This evaluation not only measures the success of the intervention but also informs future team building efforts, ensuring continuous growth and development for your team.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?