Virtual Team Exercise - WordPress.com Virtual Team Exercise 1.1 Building a strategy to reach the teams long-term goals. Purpose: To ﬁnd a way, a strategy, to reach the long-term

Virtual Team Exercise

Building a strategy to reach the teams

long-term goals

Virtual Team Exercise

Author

Gertrud Elisabet Bohlin

Stella-Nova

September 16 2016

Contents

1 Virtual Team Exercise 2

1.1 Building a strategy to reach the teams long-term goals. . . . . . . . 2

2 Session A Visualization 4

2.1 Long-term goal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.2 State of mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.3 Three di↵erent scenarios of the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 Session B Creating the strategy 6

3.1 To find the way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63.1.1 To check alignment regarding the future . . . . . . . . . . . 63.1.2 Activates, actions and milestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63.1.3 To choose TPIs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73.1.4 Future use of the diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4 Visualization exercise 8

4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84.2 Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104.3 1st scenario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104.4 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5 Diagrams-Goals strategy 13

1 Virtual Team Exercise

1.1 Building a strategy to reach the teams

long-term goals.

Purpose: To find a way, a strategy, to reach the long-term goals of a team. Thisis done by determine the most important actions, activities and identify milestonesas well as the 2-3 most important Team Performance Indicators, TPIs necessary.

Number of participants: The ideal number is around 10 people but it workswell with any number from 2 to 20.

Equipment: A videoconference arrangement with a camera covering enough ofthe room so that the whole team can be in view at the same time; free floor spacefor the team to move around; pen and paper for each team member.

Set up: This exercise spans two sessions on two separate occasions, approximately4 weeks apart, Session A and Session B.

Sources: The Strategy diagram was original sourced by my college, Carl GunnarBergendahl at Courego, Sweden, and used for individual coaching. Together we haveextended it and developed a tool for working with virtual teams. The inspirationcomes from the book Must win battles by Peter Killing, Thomas Malnight andTracey Keys and also by the exercise Journey to the future from ORSC, Organization& Relationship System Coaching.

Time needed: Approximately one-hour per session. With a larger group moretime might be needed.

Tools: The Strategy diagram illustrating the stages involved in reaching theteams long-term goal.

Stage 1 - this illustrates how the team is now - step 1 in session A.

Stage 2 - confirms the long-term goal; what and where the team would like to beonce they reach their long-term goal - step 2 in session A.

Stage 3 - shows the actions, activates and milestones which the team identifiednecessary in order to reach their long-term goal. As well as the TPIs necessary tosupport them.

This virtual exercise is provided by Gertrud Elisabet Bohlin, CPCC, PCC, at Stella Nova in Sweden as part of the TCI Accelerated Learning course

in May 2016. A special thanks to Carl Gunnar Bergendahl and David Monro-Jones. www.stella-nova.se

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2 Session A Visualization

2.1 Long-term goal

Step 1. The team-coach verifies that the team members are aligned regarding theirlong-term goal, which was set before the initial Team Diagnostic, TD, assessmentor during the first workshop.

2.2 State of mind

Step 2. The team members individually describe their feelings and thoughts aboutthe team and their possibilities to reach the set long-term goal within a/the set timeand budget. Individuals tell the rest of the team about their situation and feelings.Based on their individual stories the team agrees on words describing the presentmind-set of the team. The team-coach writes down the words the team agrees onunder the lower left hand corner of the diagram, in red. Please see diagram 1.

2.3 Three di↵erent scenarios of the future

The team-coach guides the team through three di↵erent scenarios of the future.Please see appendix 1. A break is given between each scenario to allow teammembers to take notes. When the coach has guided the team through the threescenarios, each team member tells the whole team what he or she saw, heard andexperienced, one by one. Based on the individuals stories the team agrees on whatthe future looks like, how it feels to be there and what they have achieved. Theteam members might describe both feelings and anticipated facts about what thefuture looks like. The team-coach updates diagram no1 with what the team agreedon regarding the future. The words are written in blue in the upper right corner ofthe diagram. Please see Diagram no 2.

Diagram no 2 shows where the team is today and where they are heading. Thegreen line inbetween represents the strategy to get there.



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3 Session B Creating the strategy

The session starts with the team coach resenting the diagram no 2 from sessionA. The coach asks the team to stand in one corner of the room, representing thesituation they are in right now, shown in the lower left hand corner of diagrams 1and 2. The team explore and discuss the summaries they made in session 1 andhave the opportunity to change any word they are uncomfortable with until theyare aligned regarding the present (words written in red) and the future (wordswritten in blue).

3.1 To find the way

The team coach encourages the team to use the geography of the room to find astrategy to reach their long-term goal. In this particular case, the time frame isset to three yeas from now 2016. The task is to move to the opposite corner ofthe room, representing the future, 2019. They can choose to walk straight across,in circles, back and forth, together, in groups or one by one; all deepening theirawareness of how they see their journey ahead.

3.1.1 To check alignment regarding the future

When the team reaches the opposite corner of the room they once again confirmthe words they agreed on during session A, representing the future. The team havean opportunity to change or add any word they need depending on the journeythey just made across the room. The goal for this part of the exercise is to findalignment regarding what the future looks like and how to get there.

3.1.2 Activates, actions and milestones

Now the coach coaches the team to decide on activates, actions and milestones bywhich they will build their strategy to reach their long-term goal. The coach makes

sure they understand what the team agreed upon and writes the words above thegreen line of diagram no 2, in black.

3.1.3 To choose TPIs

Finally the team will be coached to choose the TPIs they see necessary to supportthem in order to ensure a successful journey. The coach writes the agreed TPIsunder the arrows pointing upwards beneath the green line of the diagram, in black.Please see diagram no 3.

3.1.4 Future use of the diagram

The diagram no 3 now shows a simple and clear strategy, picturing what is neededto reach the long-term goal of the team. This tool can be developed and usedcontinually during di↵erent follow-up sessions in order to make sure that the teamis on the right track. There is always an option to make changes to the strategyshown in the diagram or bring in new TPIs if the reality of the team changes.



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4 Visualization exercise

Script for visualization of the Journey to the Future, part of team exercise Buildinga strategy to reach the long-term goal(s) of a team.

Example

Team Business ABCJune 2016

4.1 Introduction

This session is about finding out where you, as the management team of TeamBusiness ABC, are in three years time from now. Have you reached the long-termgoal you set out? How is the company doing? How are you as a management teamperceived internally and externally? What have your endeavours led to and how doyou feel? These are the questions I would like you to consider and I invite you towrite down your answers during this exercise.

For the next half an hour, I invite you all, both individually and as a team, toimagine and get a feeling for what the management team of Team Business ABC,which you are all a part of, has contributed to in 3 years time from now - that is in2019.

To find the answer to these questions, we will complete a short visualisation; ajourney into the future. I ask you to keep your eyes closed during the exercise. Ifyou feel uncomfortable with closing your eyes I suggest that you focus your eyes onthe floor in front of you, or to the ceiling.

I will guide you into three di↵erent scenarios, which will give you an idea of whatthe future will bring. Some of you will get a stream of images, thoughts and feelings.For others, it may only be a few pictures. Both cases are all right. If you lose yourconcentration, and your thoughts drift away, just make a note of it, and try tore-focus on the thoughts that showed up around Team Business ABC.

In 2019 you may have moved on to another job, or you may have retired. If so,imagine that you are in the surroundings of Team Business ABC and you learnabout what has happened to the company through di↵erent sources.

Make sure that you sit comfortably on your chair with both feet on the floor. Havea pen and a paper in front of you. When I ask you to open your eyes, please writedown a description of the images and thoughts that came to you listening to thescenario. When you have written them down, please close your eyes again and focuson the next scenario.

Is the setup of the exercise clear to you? Is there anything you’re wondering about?Are you ready? Let your hands rest in your lap. Take a deep breath, relax andclose your eyes. Here we go.



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4.2 Exercise

Now it’s 2019. It’s 3 years since we worked together and looked at you as amanagement team and created a strategy to reach your long-term goal of TeamBusiness ABC. What happened? Did you reach your goals? How are you as amanagement team perceived internally and externally? What have your endeavoursled to and how do you feel? What impact have these 3 years had on your personalcareer?

4.3 1

st

scenario

A lot of things have happened since 2016.

Today June 9th 2019 you are visiting a restaurant near the headquarters of BusinessABC. By chance you find yourself sitting behind some of the industry partnerswho was heavy involved in Business ABC 2016. You have discovered them, butthey do not know that you’re there since you are hidden behind some big plants.

The industrial partner has just been on a visit to the headquarters and you canhear them talk about their impressions. Among other things, they discuss whythey work with Business ABC and what they gained from it. You listen attentively.What are they saying?

Allow some time for the team to visualize and reflect.

Open your eyes and write down what came to you.

OK, are you ready for the 2nd scenario?

2

ndscenario After the lunch, you are standing on the sidewalk outside the

restaurant and suddenly you encounter an old dear colleague from Business ABCwho does not work there any more. After the usual small talk, your old colleagueasks: How are things with Business ABC nowadays? Did you reach the long-termgoal you set out 2016? What has happened?

What do you answer?


Open your eyes and write down your answers.



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Are you ready for the 3rd scenario?



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3

rdscenario The next morning you are on an International flight. You happen

to be seated behind some people you know are working at a competitor to ABCBusiness. You cannot help overhearing part of their conversation. You hear them goover di↵erent companies within the industry, discussing their opinions about them;their impact on the market; their level of success; challenges faced etc. Suddenly,you hear them mentioning Business ABC. What are they saying?


Open your eyes and write down what you hear.

4.4 Summary

We have just listened to the three di↵erent scenarios regarding Business ABC.Please close your eyes again and remain still for a few minutes. Keep your eyesclosed and let your thoughts float freely on the basis of the three scenarios you justexplored. What thoughts and emotions arise within you?

Open your eyes and write down what you found.

Stretch your body and welcome back to 9th June 2016!



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5 Diagrams-Goals strategy

This virtual exercise is provided by Gertrud Elisabet Bohlin, CPCC, PCC, at Stella Nova in Sweden as part of the TCI Accelerated Learning course in May 2016. A

special thanks to Carl Gunnar Bergendahl and David Monro-Jones. www.stella-nova.se

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This virtual exercise is provided by Gertrud Elisabet Bohlin, CPCC, PCC, at Stella Nova in Sweden as part of the TCI Accelerated Learning course in May 2016. A

special thanks to Carl Gunnar Bergendahl and David Monro-Jones. www.stella-nova.se

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Documents

Virtual Team Exercise - WordPress.com Virtual Team Exercise 1.1 Building a strategy to reach the teams long-term goals. Purpose: To ﬁnd a way, a strategy, to reach the long-term