Dozens of books and hundreds of experts will train your team leaders and members in techniques of effective communication and leading a team. This usually includes inter-personal skills, leadership, and problem solving methods. Training is a necessary ingredient but it alone does not assure team effectiveness.

This is where team facilitators fill the gap. They act as mentors and observers of team activity, intervening when needed. However with tight organizational resources, facilitators can be spread very thin. Additionally there may be situations where there is conflict of interest such as the team leader and the facilitator being colleagues.

We saw an opportunity for a tool that would help facilitators identify which teams were not performing. This would allow them to focus resources where they are needed. Our research showed that an effective solution to quickly flag dysfunctional teams were assessment tools. We reviewed assessment instruments that were available. Over 50 were already on the market. All were comprehensive, statistically accurate instruments with 50 to 300 questions. These tools worked well when working with a team that was of strategic importance or where we needed very detailed feedback. For day-to-day team processes they didn't fit the model we were developing.

Teams typically have several stages in their lifespan. One popular cycle is that of: forming storming, norming, and performing. We need an assessment tool that fits those cycles - existing tools had a single format that didn't flex to fit these cycles. The lengthy surveys could also be a turn-off to busy team members that don't want to take the time to fill them out once, let alone several times.

The Total Quality Systems Solution - Our model was to create a simple to fill out survey that adapts to the different needs at different stages of team maturity. With the experienced survey firm Assessment Systems International, we created a series of seven different surveys (for short-lived teams we only use three surveys), each with seven questions. The 360 degree instrument identifies where a team is weak. A comprehensive report is provided that can be directly given to the team or first reviewed by a facilitator.

SIM Software Management System Integrates the Process - Management involvement in the of the team goal or objective is vital. They require a status of teaming activities and concrete results of finished projects. This is accomplished through the minutes of team meetings, assigned action items, team assessment scores and tangible measurements of finished projects. The SIM software provides comprehensive, yet easy-to-digest, reports to show management how their investment in teaming is really working for the organization.