Team Development

Teams, not individuals, form the base from which sustained growth in today's highly competitive world markets will occur.

The team approach seems simple, yet what exactly is an effective team? How many different styles are needed in a truly successful team? How should virtual teams be created and managed?

Many clients contact freshbaked™ corporate when new teams are created, either for specific projects or in line with company growth. By taking team members away from the workplace for a short period, we can create an understanding of team behaviours, build team confidence and establish clear lines of communication. On returning to work, the effect on the team’s dynamics can be dramatic, ensuring enhanced performance and efficiency.

At other times, our challenge is to address issues which have arisen over a period with an existing team. Engrained behaviours and attitudes may be preventing the team from reaching peak performance. Quite apart from difficulties in maintaining inter-personal relationships, such a situation may have a profound effect on output or service levels. By surfacing the conflict and tackling each issue, we can help those involved to resolve their problems.

Management and cross-functional teams are common mechanisms for driving a business or delivering a project. The focus of these teams is often on the customer's requirements and not the needs of a department or a function. This puts increased demand on the concept of "the Management Team, not a Team of Managers", where the strengths of individuals may lie in their creative or inter-personal skills, rather than technical abilities.

freshbaked™ corporate programmes can expose teams to situations demanding a move from traditional approaches to the effective use of empowered teams, and create the commitment to make any necessary changes. Detailed psychometric feedback and process reviews help participants to appreciate the strengths of other team members and the value of different behavioural styles. All the learning is linked to the workplace, ensuring relevant outputs and sustainable returns.