Coaching, Consulting & Training
for High Value Personnel
What Others Are Saying
The First Steps’ facilitator training was one of the most profound professional educational experiences of my life. Rob created a true learning community amongst the participants – we learned the concepts, we developed teamwork, and I reconnected with myself. I learned how to effectively guide group discussions towards real learning. Rob is a consummate Master Trainer, able to simplify the complex and make it accessible. That being said, this was not a beginner’s training, but one that stretched me. I give Rob and First Steps my highest recommendation.
Justina Rudez, Entrepreneur
Team Performance: What's Involved
Many organizations have "teams," yet High Performing Teams don't just happen. High performing teams have addressed and implemented
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Clear Direction
- each member of the team clearly understands its purpose, what its key outputs will be, and when they are due.
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Sufficient and Appropriate Structure
- each member of the team understands his/her role on the team - the value that he/she brings to the team - as well as other members' roles; team tasks are delegated to those on the team with the appropriate knowledge and skill set; all required resources, tools and job aids needed to deliver the outputs are present; team member tasks are coordinated for maximum efficiency; a measurement system is in place for key internal and external deliverables.
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Effective Team Processes
- team members understand and use standardized work processes (those by which the team delivers value to its stakeholders) and standardized team processes (those which best enable members to coordinate their information and activities)
- Interpersonal Communication
- Effective Meeting Management
- Priority Setting
- Project Management
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
- Training (internal)
- Coordination with other work groups
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Trusting / Supportive Team Culture - each team member knows that
he/she and other team members will do what they say they will do; differences are understood and appreciated; members know that they are accepted and are open about what they want/need from others. Important conversations are characterized by appreciative listening and questioning to understand; because each team member is focused on the team results, conflicts that do occur center on the best path forward and are characterized by healthy debate. Internal feedback is frequent and welcome, with each member of the team holding other members of the team accountable.
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Strong and Flexible Leadership
- the formal team leader(s) sees his or her role as one who guides and supports the team to achieve its results. He or she ensures that team goals and parameters are correct, realistic and understood; that all needed resources are made available and all roadblocks removed, avoided or minimized. The leader ensures that established team processes are understood and followed, manages involvement and provides process guidance or facilitation where needed; he or she models the behaviors expected and ensures both individual and team achievement. He or she coordinates the team's efforts with other work groups and is a reliable team advocate to others in the organization.
Real team development focuses on understanding team requirements, team strengths and team weaknesses, then closes the gap(s) identified with specific facilitated, coaching or training interventions.
Contact an FSTD representative to discuss your team
