Hi,
We run a two-day indoor residential or three day (normal - yuk) workshop
which centres on the functions of an effective leader - both as an
individual and as a member of a self-directed team (in other words, all of
the team are responsible for leadership). This is then followed up, on the
job, by each person providing evidence of where he/she has in the past, or
is currently, applied or is applying the skills and knowledge seen as
important to an effective leader or self-directed team (the skills or
competency standards - see my earlier posting for descriptions of what
these are).
As part of the workshop we run a 2-3 hour (depending on group size)
exercise where the group is split into two teams (or four depending on
group size). One half of the group is given a task but no instructions save
for the objective (eg, get the team to the other side of the river or move
a stack of timber from one point to another where there is already a stack
of bricks, or rummage through a box of machinery parts and construct the 3
or 4 machines these parts make up etc. etc. - imagination is good here).
The other half of the group is given the task of observing the first group
and spot both the positive and the negative aspects of how the team works,
who takes the lead, what he/she does, what the rest of the team does, the
way they work/don't work together, their morale etc etc. At the end of the
exercise the second group is given extensive opportunity to share their
findings while the first group cleans up. Then they swap - preferably to
another task so that the second group hasn't had time to figure out how
they'd do the activity if/when they get a chance.
We also show a movie (heaven forbid - here's that copyright issue again.
Please don't swamp me with emails on this one.....!!!) and discuss the
leasons that can be drawn out of it. (For thoughts on the copyright issue
please go to earlier postings - I don't think it appropriate to open that
Pandora's Box again.)
The upshot is that people are walked through the principles, given an
opportunity to see it in action (both personally and through the medium of
a film - or whatever), and then demonstrate it for others. Then they go
away and provide evidence that they have either been practising leadership
at the required level in the past or are currently doing it. The second
phase could take some months but it is well worth it.
Thanks to Dr John Adair for the advice and, dare I say it, leadership in
this type of program. Beats anything else I've ever come across in 30 odd
years of doing it.
Hope this helps
Phil Rutherford
At 16:17 27/05/98 +0100, you wrote:
>SORRY FOR DOUBLE POSTINGS!
>
>Dear members of the list,
>
>do any of you know of class- or outdoor-excercises that show pros and cons
>of self-directed (managed) work teams?
>
>Thank you in advance for possible answers.
>
>Giuseppe Delmestri, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy
>
>
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P D Rutherford & Associates Pty Ltd
Competency-based systems specialists
61 2 6230 4823
robnphil@ozemail.com.au