What the heck is Systemic Team Coaching?

Insights from the Five Disciplines Model

Dear LinkedIn Community,

Did you know, Team Coaching is one of the fastest growing disciplines in the coaching profession? In today's complex workplace, organizations increasingly recognize the power of teams to innovate and drive their business or mission forward. With 76% of organisations expecting to increase their use of team coaching (6th Ridler Report), (ICF)

Well, for those of you who know me already - I have focused on creating high-functioning, collective team environments for the past three years. But guess what, I am taking it to the next level and this month I have started a Systemic Team Coaching Qualification with one the world's founding fathers of Team Coaching Prof. Professor Peter Hawkins and his colleague Dr. Catherine Carr, MCEC, PCC, RCC .

I am loving it!

Here is how Prof. Peter Hawkins defines Systemic Team Coaching:

“A process by which a team coach works with a whole team, both when they are together and when they are apart, in order to help them improve both, their collective performance and how they work together, and also how they develop their collective leadership to more effectively engage with all their key stakeholder groups to jointly transform the wider business.” (Hawkins 2014:80).

And as I am diving deeper into the learning, I wanted to share a framework with you which really demonstrates the difference between Team Facilitation and Systemic Team Coaching.

Who would have known that there is a continuum between those two?

You see, a facilitator often stands in front of the group and fuels the team with information and then a discussion will follow about the topic.

As a Systemic Team Coach one session could include to just observe a meeting and dynamics in the room.

The coach is less of a knowledge carrier, instead they listen & propose questions to the team and the leader and make them think and reflect about their current and desired roles in the team and the wider organisation. From that collective enquiry emerges a collective narrative which forms the magic of collective commitment to each other.

“The biggest challenges in nearly all organizations today lie not inside the individuals, teams, or even departments, but in the connections between them.” Hawkins, 2023

The surge in team coaching comes at a time where we need to shift the leadership paradigm from TELLING (Leader has the knowledge and directs) to ENQUIRY (The leader becomes an orchestrator who empowers the team to find their own solutions.)

Of course, this is easier said than done. You can't achieve this shift solely by changing your meetings. It is a holistic approach and once in place, the change in behaviour and mindset will be seen in every single interaction to internal or external stakeholders. Your team members will think differently, with more agency, accountability, and a clear purpose. And most importantly siloed and individualistic acting and thinking is replaced by a collective approach.

The result: The Sum Is More Than It’s Parts

Peter Hawkins has developed a very helpful framework to visualise and conceptualise all the parts which are needed to achieve this shift. Here a brief overview:

5 Disciplines of Highly Effective Teams

Developed by Peter Hawkins, the Five Disciplines Model serves as a roadmap for effective team functioning. These disciplines encompass:

1. Commission: Understanding the team's purpose and obligations to stakeholders.
2. Clarifying: Establishing clear goals, roles, and collective objectives.
3. Co-creating: Fostering a collaborative environment conducive to innovation and ideation.
4. Connecting: Strengthening external relationships with stakeholders and communities.
5. Core Learning: Cultivating a culture of continuous learning and development within the team.

Practical Applications: Systemic team coaching goes beyond sporadic interventions; it's a continuous journey of growth and development. This may involve off-site events, process consultancy during regular meetings, stakeholder engagement, and individual coaching for team members.

Leadership Team Coaching: Recognizing the pivotal role of leadership teams, coaching interventions are tailored to enhance collective leadership capabilities and stakeholder engagement, driving organizational success.

In essence, systemic team coaching transcends traditional notions of team development by integrating a holistic approach that addresses internal dynamics, stakeholder relationships, and organizational transformation. As we navigate the complexities of today's business landscape, embracing the Five Disciplines Model can serve as a compass for teams seeking sustainable growth and impact.

Stay tuned for our next instalment as we delve deeper into the transformative potential of #teamship and please like and share if you found this valuable.

Warm Regards, Birthe.