Today at the Adventure Center, we had a small group from The Tan Company. They were great. The weather was not what we were hoping for, so all of our programming had to take place indoors. They were able to roll with that and still make some pretty big strides as a group.
The biggest thing that they worked on was communication. It was brought up by the group that they would like to be able to give and receive feedback more effectively as well as feel more supported by other staff members. The group was able to process the activities that we did and relate them to their workplace (a facilitators dream). In the end they were all able to agree on a few key points:
- They all want to have a positive work environment
- They want to feel valued and supported
- Feedback is something that should be given and received with the idea that everyone is working toward a common goal
- When issues arise between co-workers, it is best to speak privately to that person at the time of the issue
In just two short hours, the group made most of these connections on their own. This shows me that they are committed to working well with each other, and now have some tools to more effectively do so.
March 10, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Josh,
Do you see the key points regarding communication noted above as global issues and, if so, how does a team begin to make improvements in these areas?
March 10, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I think that they are global. No matter what relationships we are engaging in, be they personal or professional, we are looking for the general ideas outlined above. Each relationship, however, is different in the specifics of that communication.
From an Adventure Center Standpoint, programmers at Google are looking for a different kind of interaction and communication with their co-workers than treatment specialists here at Crossroads for Youth. The basic four ideas outlined above are still present, but the road to get there can look quite different.