You Clever People!

All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Linking Businesses and Universities

I was invited this morning to take part in a workshop set up by the Royal Institute of Engineering - we were asked to consider how Universities can get SMEs more involved in working with them.

Unis have a good track record of developing relationships with larger companies - we were regaled with case studies of companies like Cogent, who have worked with academics on developing amazing clever new kinds of magnet.

Despite my initial scepticism, I came away with some ideas on how collaboration can be developed.

And a big pile of business cards, of course!

I have lots of ideas, most of which require me to collaborate with others to implement.

Who could you be collaborating with in a way that will help realise your visions?

All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Top Nurse Slams Stupid Meetings

I was interested to hear Justine Whitaker, Nurse of the Year, talking on the Today programme this morning about her decision to leave the NHS.

One thing (among many) that she mentioned was her frustration at having to attend meetings at which nothing was decided, and at which she was "the cheapest there, at £35,000".

All organisations, not just public sector, are under constant pressure to make the most value from the talent they have and poorly run meetings, as well as being demotivating and boring, are an incredibly expensive way of getting sod all done!

I would say this, but I think management teams should get talented expert facilitators in to teach them how to run their meetings more effectively...


All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Are any of these theories actually true?

I think it would be fascinating and very useful to find out whether team building models that are currently being taught in management courses and used in companies are actually transferable.

Wouldn't it be great if we could look at what one team / manager was doing, identify the essence of it, and transfer that to another team / manager?

I'm concerned that despite all our best efforts this may not be the case and in fact success cannot per purchased in book form. Leadership trait theory is rightly challenged in courses, even basic ones like the CIMA management module. The more you look for leadership traits, the longer the list gets and the more exceptions you find. The same may well be true for team development and management theories, including heavyweight stuff like Belbin Team Roles, Tuckman's team development sequence and Adair's Action-Centered Leadership.

If this is true, what are the consequences for teams, for consultants and for academics? Well, I imagine that most people will either not be interested, or will choose to ignore it. Throwing out 107 years of management textbooks is unlikely to happen, however much Paul Davies might want it.

Those of us that really want to make a difference and for that difference to be founded in demonstrable truth, however, would sit up an take notice. We'd pool our forces and efforts ina determined effort to find out what would make a real difference. Is it the democratisation / abdication approach (depending on your viewpoint) of companies like Semco? Is it team development based on educating people in psychological preferences, as promised by companies like Insights Learning & Development? Is it something else?

I've had an idea for some time now to bring together people who really want to find out the truth about how teams work; to sweep away the superstitions and rituals of the past and move workplaces forward in a positive and constructive way that works, sticks and is true. Those who feel the same calling probably will want to call me.

All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Only half the story

Found this:

Camarader ie is great but...

...which neatly sums up the problem with unfacilitated teambuilding. I was at an outdoor activity centre quite recently where the manager told us of how many companies wanted to whisk the team back off to their hotel to get plastered as soon as the activities were complete. It is so important that we take time to reflect, and teambuilding and training events are ideal for some intense, focussed reflection. Let's remember to take some time around the campfire to reflect with our teams, even in our everyday world, not just when we're out in the woods!


All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Just so you all know, this blog is safe for you to let your children read:

All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Naturally Speaking

Ever watched yourself presenting on video?

I have tended to keep away from video feedback on communications skills courses. One of the dangers of video feedback is that the camera notices and exaggerates stuff that the brain filters out. When you watch it, you look like a windmill on speed, and people can become very self-conscious about things that are actually positive features of their natural communications style.

I heard Simon Callow once describe Milos Forman's directing style as being "No Acting Allowed!" and in the same TV documentary series Clint Eastwood said a similar thing - the expressiveness we use in front of an audience, be it in a seminar, on a stage or even just one-to-one in a coffee shop, is too much for the camera, which has a far narrower field of vision.

There's a kids' TV programme called Big Cook, Little Cook starring a full-sized chef and his lilliputian colleague. They do dances to their songs between parts of the show and Big Cook Ben looks exaggerated and unnatural, whereas Little Cook Small (imaginative name, huh?) doesn't and I think it's because of the fact that Small is shot from a long distance and takes up about 1/3 of the screen height from head to toe.

I teach that natural communication is the best way to present, to sell, or to run and participate in meetings. Be very wary of the extreme narrow focus of the camcorder!

All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd

Have you tried this one?

It seems most people are aware of the business networking website Ecademy. Have you seen this alternative, called LinkedIn?

I have recently used LinkedIn's "questions" facility to run a short informal survey on "what frustrates you most about team meetings?" Feel free to post your own answers here as comments, by the way!

I'll be putting some of the conclusions of the replies I have to this question soon!

All the best,


Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com

Delurking Week

Just a quick pointer, my very old friend Gary has found us all this piece of warming cajolery from the US.

This is the week we should all make some kind of comment on the blgs which we read but never or rarely comment on.

Full details at http://scienceblogs.com/ethicsandscience/2007/01/national_delurking_week_2007.php

All the best,

Dave Bull
Team Coaching Network Ltd
http://www.teamcoachingnetwork.com