Coaching for High-Functioning Team Development
This case study illustrates the importance of structured coaching in building high-functioning teams, especially when facing remote work challenges, inexperience, and complex project requirements. The team’s journey showcases the value of collaborative agreements, leadership support, and open communication in achieving team objectives.
Introduction. This case study explores the team coaching of an entrepreneurial company focused on developing automated tools for enhancing high-tech teams. The company’s newly formed team, comprising a graduate team leader and seven undergraduate students from various fields, was facing challenges in team cohesion, coding accuracy, and meeting development milestones.
Client Profile. Team B was a small, newly formed team within an entrepreneurial company. The team consisted of an inexperienced graduate student as the team leader and seven undergraduate students. The company’s goal was to develop AI tools to support high-tech teams, and the team was tasked with coding thematic elements critical to AI learning. All team members worked remotely, which added complexity to team dynamics.
Initial Situation. At the onset of coaching, the team was struggling to maintain consistent thematic coding, resulting in delays in their development timeline. The team leader lacked experience, and remote work compounded the team’s difficulties in communication and collaboration. As a result, the team fell behind schedule and lacked the cohesion necessary for high performance.
Coaching Objectives. The primary objectives, set in collaboration with the Sponsor (the company’s President), were to:
- Develop a high-functioning, collaborative team.
- Improve the team’s confidence and accuracy in thematic coding.
- Meet project development timelines.
- Prepare the team for the upcoming pilot study in three months.
The Sponsor sought leadership coaching for the team leader and a structured approach to team development. I established coaching contracts with both the Sponsor for overall guidance and the team for ongoing collaboration.
Coaching Methodology and Tools. The coaching methodology incorporated multiple approaches to enhance team effectiveness:
- Team Effectiveness Survey : This survey assessed team strengths and weaknesses, informing areas for improvement.
- Individual and Group Coaching : Separate coaching sessions with the team leader and members, along with whole-group coaching, were conducted to foster collaboration and alignment.
- Teambuilding Exercise : The team developed a team agreement, setting clear roles, norms, and goals.
- Sponsor Feedback : I provided regular feedback to the Sponsor to enhance support and alignment.
Processes and Interventions. Key interventions included:
- Team Agreement Development : The team worked collaboratively to draft an agreement outlining roles, goals, and expectations. This process was facilitated using a metaphor of planning a long hike, helping them conceptualize their mission (destination), roles (navigator, lead, first aid, etc.), and approaches for overcoming challenges.
- Team Effectiveness Survey and Reflection : The survey results highlighted weaknesses in meetings, communication, partnership, and support from senior management. With these insights, the team revisited and refined their team agreement, incorporating adjustments to address these gaps.
- Bi-Weekly Team Lead Coaching : I provided bi-weekly coaching to the team leader, attending team meetings and offering feedback on her leadership and the team’s dynamics.
- Sponsor Oversight : Monthly back-briefs to the Sponsor led to increased guidance and oversight, fostering an environment of care and support for the team.
Outcomes and Accomplishments. Through this coaching engagement, Team B achieved notable progress:
- Enhanced Leadership Confidence : The team leader grew more confident and effective, managing the team with greater competence and representing the team’s needs to senior management.
- Improved Team Communication and Support : Team members began to communicate openly, building a supportive team culture.
- Achievement of Coding Accuracy Goals : The team surpassed their coding agreement target, positioning them to begin the pilot study as scheduled.
- Increased Senior Management Support : With the team leader’s improved communication, senior management provided the necessary resources and support, positively impacting team morale and progress.
Conclusion and Lessons Learned. This case highlighted the challenges and benefits of creating a cohesive team from scratch. Team members and management realized the energy required to build and sustain an effective team, especially in a remote setting. Senior management learned that active oversight and support are crucial to the team’s success. Coaching the team leader played a significant role in both her development and the team’s progress. The use of the “hike” metaphor was instrumental in guiding the team’s agreement and goal-setting processes, fostering unity and shared purpose.