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 Maynard Leigh Associates
 Ace Teams Tips
 

Using the Whole Person

  • Use physical energy

  • Mentally stretching

  • Emotional expression

  • Use of intuition

  • Work excites

Making It Happen

  • Use physical energy: Do some team walkabouts. Everyone meets in unusual environments away from the office. Do some work on the journey. Get used to being active together.

  • Find an activity you would all enjoy and do it together. While doing it talk business and see if any creative suggestions emerge.

  • Add something physical to your next team brainstorming session by standing up. Throw a soft ball around in a team meeting. As each person catches it, they must say the first idea that comes into their head. It may seem a bit silly at first, but you'll be surprised how many new ideas come up.

  • Mentally stretching: Teams can be a great support in stimulating intellectual creativity. Get each member of the team to set a work problem for the others. It may be communicated in a creative way, such as a crossword puzzle or a riddle.

  • References to historical events or literature could be used to shed a new light on your situation. eg. "What can Darwin's Theory of Evolution tell us about our marketing plan?" or "How could we relate our production system to Harry Potter?" What does Aldous Huxley's "The Island" tell us about our organisational structure?

  • Emotional expression: Start and end a team meeting with each member stating in one word (avoiding 'fine' or 'OK') to describe how they feel. After a while the expressions will get more specific and subtle.

  • Use of intuition: Next time the team is trying to make a choice, go round and ask each person what their inner voice-or their "gut (!)"says.

  • Work excites: At an occasional team meeting, have an agenda item where the team recall the most exciting things that have happened this week/month/quarter.

  • Explore whether people feel less or more energised at the end of a working day than at the beginning. Devise ways of making the team activity more energising and empowering.

ACE Teams home page | Tips Index | Aligned Leadership | Incisive Organisation | Supportive Relationships | Personal Investment | Permissive Encouragement | Creative Energy | Using The Whole Person | Spirit Of Adventure | Growth And Discovery | Wholehearted Appreciation