Five Point Star – Showing the Team Coaching Competencies to the Team

One of the things that I truly enjoy about coaching is seeing my clients learn to coach themselves. The same should be true for teams, right? Well, I would like to put out to the community one exercise that can help bring clarity to the team coaching competencies for the team. It is a variation on the well known team five point star building exercise that can be done inside or outside, but probably not virtually (so there are some limitations).

Tee-up: Tell the team that this exercise is intended to help the team understand the essential team coaching competencies so that they can learn to coach themselves, and continue to become a better team.

Preparation: Slightly tangle a 40-50 foot rope. Try not to create hard knots. Move chairs to a circle around the open area.

Exercise:
1. Instruct the team to form a circle around the rope.
2. Instruct the team to approach the rope and grab a piece of the rope with both hands.
3. Tell the team that once they touch the rope they cannot remove their hands.
4. Once everyone has both hands on the team, tell the team that they have 10 minutes to form a five point star (be purposely vague about this – if they ask “do we need to cross lines?”, tell them “how you form the star is up to the team.”)

Debrief:
1. Ask the team, what they think of their product. How would they rate it on a scale of 1 – 10, acknowledge the different voices and the reasons for each number.
2. Ask the team, what they noticed about their process. Was it similar to how they normally act? Solve problems?
3. Explain that each point in the star represents a different team coaching competency and ask them to have a seat in the circle around the star.
4. Point 1 – System Aware: Define this competency for the team as “The ability to see team strengths, blind spots, and beliefs. To recognize what this team values.” Ask “With our exercise in mind, what are this teams strengths? What are this teams blind spots? What are this teams values?” Chart responses on a flip-chart or board for all to see.
5. Point 2 – Tune-In: Define this competency as “The ability to listen to the team on many levels.” Ask, “What are you noticing in your communication? What was being said (push beyond the words to the meaning)” What was being avoided? Where was there flow? Where was their resistance?”
6. Point 3 – Reflective Observer: Define this competency as “The ability to reflect back to the team what you see.” Ask, “What are the diverse voices within the team? Where are there allies? What is the elephant in the room? What does the team want to name it?”
7. Point 4 – Actively Present: Define this competency as “The ability to monitor many screens at once.” Ask, “Where was your internal (personal) focus during the exercise? How does your internal distraction/focus impact the team? Team objectives? Team diversity? How can the team be more present? More open?”
8. Point 5 – Committed: Define this competency as “The ability to maintain commitment to your role in order to be effective?” Ask, “How has the team shaped relationships? Expectations? Created safety? How doe the team call forth the best the team has to offer? How does the team stand in the fire?”

Allow for about ten minutes for each point. Stand in the silence. Let the team struggle through the questions.

This could be presented early on in the team coaching process or towards the end. Or both.

I would appreciate any suggestions or feedback.

Thanks,
Josh