Reflective interview (Trust, Team Leadership, Communication)

[Sara]

Trust building exercise – Reflective interview

Target Group: newly formed teams; low trust; low positivity teams
Purpose: build trust, open communication, increase transparency, team leadership
Participants: Up to 12
Time needed: 40 – 45 min
3 min Team coach introduction of the exercise.
15 – 20 min interview
15 min team reflection
5 min debrief

Seating:
1) Talk-show setting with two chairs fronting eachother as on a stage (Team coach and Team leader’s seats) Chairs for team members in a half circle, watching the “talk show” as an audience, during the interview
2) After the interview the “audience” split into smaller groups of 4-5 people and each group forms a full circle.
3) After the team reflection full team (including the Team coach and Team leader form a full circle

Procedure:
1) Before the session, Team coach has briefed the Team Leaders about the exercise, preparing her/him on a personal, and somewhat private interview with a clear purpose to establish a high-level of trust by displaying openness and vulnerability. No specific questions will be shared with the Team leader before-hand to enable an authentic conversation, however themes will be shared i.e. childhood; studies; career paths; leadership role models; personal reflections of being a leader; and aspirations for the team

2) Team coach instruct the team that they will be like the audience of a talk-show, as if they are watching TV. The Team leader and Team coach will only focus on each other during the interview, paying no attention to the team listening. Team members are encouraged to take notes of things that are being said that they find extra interesting, thrilling, or even peculiar as well as overall reflections. The Team coach explains the three parts of the exercise: 1) Interview 2) Team members divide into smaller groups of 4-5 forming a small, full circle 3) Debrief in a full circle including Team Leader and Coach.

3) Team coach hold an interview with the Team Leader, starting off from childhood years (f. ex. “How would you describe yourself being a child?” “What made you happy?” Any special interests?”), moving on to choice of studies, first work-life experience, great leaders who has served as role-models, reflections on his/her’s own leadership (“what do you enjoy the most being a leader? “What do you struggle with/find challenging?”) ending up in the current role as a leader for this specific team. “what are your wishes and aspirations for this team?”, “Most important focus/goals going forward”.

4) Team coach now asks the team to split into smaller groups and ask one group at the time to reflect on what they just heard and experienced. When everyone in the small group has shared their reflection, next group reflect, and so on.

5) When all groups have shared their reflections, full team form a circle and Team coach asks the Team leader if there is anything that came up during the reflections that she/he wants to clarify or reflect upon. Then full team is invited to share experiences from the exercise. “What has changed in the team since before the exercise?” “What are the team learnings?” “Can they identify any new team strengths?”

[Author]

Posts