Teams don't learn
Teams don’t learn – let’s evaluate
In coaching, but also in leading an organization or managing a company you start with gathering the right people*. Next in the process you identify your vision on where you want to go, your (short-term) objectives, values and the required behavior that reflects this. This is a complex process that requires hard work and strong leadership. I’m a strong believer in first gathering the right, quality people before defining your objectives and values. Of course, when working in a club, organization or company, mission statements are often already defined, but ‘people shape culture, culture shapes people.’
?For a team (or organization, company) to be successful, I use the following criteria. These criteria are used to evaluate the process during a season, but also as a measuring stick to learn and to provide feedback.
·??????Define your objective(s): when are you successful?
·??????Define roles and responsibilities: each member, connected to qualities and
ability to learn
·??????Define your communication: how, process-oriented, feedback
·??????Define leadership: take responsibility and initiative
·??????Be committed
?Each team consists of individuals, each an integral part of the team and its success. But a team can’t be coached, a team can’t learn. Coaching a team would mean that you approach all members as if they are all the same. Team coaching stands for facilitating the growth and development of each member as an individual, all working together towards the same team objective, holding the same team values, contributing to the team culture. So basically, you coach each individual and help them grow, develop and learn referring to the mutual objectives and values, so the team can be successful.
?Evaluation = feedback
?To guide the process during a season, there are 3 key moments for feedback:
?1.????Before the start of the season:
- discuss and define the objective, communication flow, roles and responsibilities
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- discuss and define the decision-making process
- discuss the individual development of each member (staff and players)
2.????During the season (several times):
- discuss the team’s process and performance based on criteria set before start of the season
- let each member share one thing that the team should do more of (midway season)
- let each member share one thing that the team should do different
??(midway season)
- ask: how well are working together
- ask: is each member growing, developing and learning
3.????After the season:
- reflect on the process and performance based on the criteria set before the start of the season and midway season
- let each member write down what they learned, did well and where they need to?improve
?Understanding that teams don’t learn, it is important that you guide the process of individual development and the contributions each member makes to process and therefore the team performance. As a coach you should receive feedback on this process and not just the performance, because a coach CAN learn.
?*right people: context dependent