“Is this going to help us learn how to avoid conflict in teams?” one university Masters’ student asked me at the start of a recent workshop. He and the other students were surprised to discover that team conflict is a necessary part of a high performing team and if managed well can be positive.
By the end of the day, their views had shifted. The students started to see conflict as not something to avoid, but as something to proactively manage to build trust, gain commitment and then ultimately produce positive results. It was through exploration of Patrick Lencioni’s model they learnt how high performing teams can be created.
The characteristics of a cohesive team are :
- Trust
- Conflict
- Commitment
- Accountability, and
- Results.
Each behaviour in the model builds upon the previous and supports the others.
This knowledge will be helpful as the students form project teams for their final assessments.
In my view, it is especially important also because some students on the course will be future leaders managing teams in global organisations very soon.
The students’ positive feedback afterwards, reminded me also how much fun it is to work with people in person again, and how much we can all learn from others when we work in teams.
If you are interested in knowing more about the team workshops we design and facilitate for our clients, please get in contact. We would enjoy hearing from you.
Angela Sherring
Phone: 07962 871144
Email: angela@sherringassociates.co.uk