Getting your team coached goes far beyond organizing a brainstorming session, a team-building event, or a strategy presentation. In this article, we’ll explore a few scenarios where involving a coach can help your team progress and the potential benefits of doing so. This list is not exhaustive!

Team Coaching to Start a Project

You have a new project set to begin soon with high expectations from the Board. While you want the team to dive in immediately, organizing team coaching at this stage is an investment. It might slightly delay the start, but it will enable the team to become a high-performing unit much faster. During this phase, the coach will:

• Facilitate discussions among team members to transform a group of individuals into a cohesive team.
• Help the team unite around the project by defining ways of working and an engagement charter, which will serve as the foundation for trustful and safe relationships.
• Create a strong team identity, making the project a more exciting and engaging experience.

Team Coaching at the Team Creation Stage

A newly formed team often faces divergent views, different experiences and backgrounds, and questions about roles and responsibilities. Some team members may dominate discussions, others may remain in observation mode, and some may just go through the motions. Coaching at this stage helps establish a strong foundation. The coach will:

• Encourage team members to express and share their feelings.
• Support the team in defining their vision and values.
• Transform resistance to change into a collective drive to move forward together.
• Empower the team to work effectively and cohesively.

Team Coaching for Teams in Trouble

Sometimes a team struggles to fulfill its tasks or roles, such as failing to make decisions or take initiatives. Coaching at this stage helps identify and resolve underlying issues. The coach will:

• Use metaphorical workshops to identify problems and bring unspoken issues to light.
• Highlight topics that are within the team’s control to address.
• Develop an actionable plan to overcome obstacles.

In Short: When to Get Your Team Coached

A coach can be involved at any point in a team’s lifecycle: at its creation, to boost efficiency, to rekindle momentum and engagement, to resolve complex issues, or to support during periods of change. The coach acts as a catalyst, providing an external perspective and encouraging the team to respond and adapt. They may serve as a coach, trainer, or facilitator, focusing on individuals, the group, and their interactions as needed.

Team coaching is always customized to best meet the team’s needs. It can include training and collective intelligence workshops. The ultimate goal, as with individual coaching, is to help the team reflect on their ways of working and determine the actions needed to achieve their goals.