Commitment Exercise
Creating a Recipe for Team Success
Teams help organizations accomplish their goals. Sometimes, teams do not perform as well as expected. A possible reason for poor performance may be a lack of understanding of each individual’s personal potential. In other words, team members may be unaware of what the other members have to offer.
Process
Ask team members to consider the characteristics or “ingredients” that make up an ideal team. Also, ask each team member to consider the key ingredients that he or she could contribute most to the team.
- What are the ingredients of an ideal team?
- Example: We check in with each other at lease once a week for updates.
- Example: We check in with each other at lease once a week for updates.
- What would these ingredients look like when demonstrated within the ideal team?
- Example: Status reports given once a week for all team members.
- Example: Status reports given once a week for all team members.
- Which key ingredients do you feel you contribute most to the team?
- Example: We feed off of one another's ideas during brainstorming sessions.
- Example: We feed off of one another's ideas during brainstorming sessions.
Analysis
After completing the exercise, look over the information you've gathered. Once all team members have identified their individual strengths, a team profile will emerge. Use this profile to strengthen your team's identity and motivate you to accomplish shared goals.