TeamSmart

The Building Blocks of any Organization: 
​The Wind Beneath My Wings
CBC&C identifies what the purpose of the team is, what stage of development it is, does it  have the full complement of members to fulfill its mission, how aligned it is with the organization's mission,

When CBC&C works with teams, effectiveness is enhanced when people have goal clarity, role clarity, a clear leadership process, and clearly articulated responsibilities.  By recognizing the strengths of each team member's contributions and then matching them to the goal and role, the team starts to take shape. 

By being aligned with the team's purpose and goals, emotional commitment takes place; everyone is equally invested and motivation is positively impacted by accountability to each other. 

The current reality is measured against the goals of the team and together a strategy is developed and put in place to close the gap and fulfill the mission.


"Shannon developed and led a one-day team-building retreat helping us further cement the mutually beneficial bonds connecting advisory council members and staff as it clarified our shared purpose.  She utilized our mission and the college's core values to ground the retreat.  She led us through compelling and unique exercises which helped identify and share our individual strengths as tied to our goals.  Council members and staff learned more about each other, focusing on ways to best stimulate growth for each other both professionally and personally.  We were greatly assisted by Shannon's efforts.  Her compassionate and close listening, creative processes, and excellent methods to engage and further our organizational development were well appreciated by all."

Barbara Susman, MSW, Director,                
Lane Community College

Lessons from the Geese*

We can all take a lesson from a skein of geese in forming healthy, high-functioning teams.  And teams are the heart of any organization.
  • As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the bird following.  By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
  • Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the "lifting power" of the bird immediately in front.
Lesson:  If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join in formations with those who are headed where we want to go.
  • When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.​
Lesson:  It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership--with people, as with geese, interdependent with one another.
  • The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging--not something less helpful.
  • When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help provide protection.  They stay with this member of the flock until he or she is either able to fly again or dies.  Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with their own flock.
Lesson:  if we have as much sense as the geese, we'll stand by each other like that.
​
*Written by Dr. Robert McNeish of Baltimore in 1972