As previously noted, you are seeing a problem with team development in each of the departments. Managers seem to be avoiding the use of diversity in their teams. As you interview managers on the team development process, you realize that several of the managers have not been trained on the steps involved in creating high-performing teams. During a meeting in the company cafeteria, you and Jared discuss the situation.
"Jared, I hear what you're saying about teams in the departments," you say. "But maybe managers are avoiding diversification because they don't know how to facilitate it. I've had conversations with most of them now, and it sounds like they need some training on how to create high-performing, diverse teams."
"That may be," he says. "What should we do?"
"I have an approach I want to try with them," you say. "It's worked well in the past.
"Go on," he says.
"I'd like to dedicate a day for training and development with the managers. Mid-level managers will come away with information about team development and experience by way of practice sessions."
"That sounds useful," he says as his phone rings for the third time since you sat down. "Send me an e-mail with more details, and I'll see what I can do. I don't know that I can put all of the managers in training for a day; a half-day session might be more doable."
"I'll send you an agenda by the end of today," you say. "Thanks."
Back at your office, you pull files on your work with other companies and create a proposed agenda for Jared to consider. You send it at noon, and by end of day, you receive a reply from him okaying the half-day session. Because most companies use teams in today's organizational environment, you know that an easy way to begin training of this sort is to put participants into groups and then ask them questions. Their responses to the following questions will stimulate discussion and help them relax with each other:
- What experiences have you had working in a team?
- Were your experiences positive or negative?
- What suggestions would you offer the chief executive officer of CMA regarding team development?
- How could team development increase communication?
You always begin sessions like this with your own personal example, so you take some time to write answers to the questions.