The Art of Leading Teams: Discover Erika’s story
What was your background prior to taking the course?
Since the start of my career, I’ve managed teams – whether for TV production, as a supply chain manager or even as a tennis captain. I started managing intuitively and after a while I wanted to grow beyond experience. For that, an effective training changes your life! I developed a taste for uniting talent and leading teams with passion. Today, I’m a coach and trainer. I also run a non-profit organization – an initiative that I led from conception, completion and (project and team) management.
What motivated you to follow the Team Dynamics training?
I had already followed several leadership and communication training courses. They were often however very “1-on-1” focused – e.g. how to give individual feedback. The thing is, when you’re managing a team, there’s a “group effect” that can’t be ignored. The team members form an interconnected system where each individual influences and is influenced by the others. I was curious to explore this collective phenomenon and equip myself with tools to best manage the balance and performance of a team.
What aspects of the training impressed you the most?
The training is very comprehensive and covers all the relevant models such as Roos Van Leary, Belbin and Tuckman. What I liked most was the focus on integration and concrete cases. We don’t just theorize, we experiment! And that’s what is needed for real transformation. Integration and change don’t just come from the head (processing the theory) – it comes from the head, the heart and the guts! So, you don’t leave this training saying “boh that was interesting” rather you leave this training with a sense of “wow, that was awakening” and that really gets you moving!
What were some of the things that clicked for you?
An important concept of the training is sensing when to focus on the details and when to step back to look at the big picture. For example, recognizing the different phases of a team’s development has been extremely beneficial for me from this point of view. There are phases where it’s important to insist and others where it’s important to let go, phases where it’s important to pay close attention to everyone’s needs and others where you can just go for it. Thanks to this training, I’ve adopted a much calmer approach to leadership and finally understand that, yes, conflict makes sense! It’s even a logical and necessary step in team growth.
How do you see team dynamics evolving?
Today, the search for meaning and identity is omnipresent. Faced with continuous change, individuals are increasingly invited to listen to what’s going on inside them. People are trying to find their place. And now post-COVID crisis, the role of the manager has evolved considerably. We used to look to the manager for nourishment and guidance. Today, we lean towards more autonomous teams, where people position themselves according to their respective strengths, like intrapreneurs. The classic hieraierarchical model is gradually giving way to circular thinking. It’s important for today’s leaders to equip themselves with the right tools.
What would you say to anyone who is considering taking the training?
Choosing Training & Coaching Square means choosing quality and excellence. The trainers have attended every course they give. So they understand perfectly the challenges and expectations of the participants. This training goes beyond conventional approaches and takes you to the heart of team dynamics, enabling you to : 1. create a space of trust and safety, 2. accept that you don’t always have to act, 3. dare to call on everyone’s responsibility, even when it seems complicated. If you really want to optimize the way you manage teams, this training course is a must.
You don’t leave this training saying “boh that was interesting” rather you leave this training with a sense of “wow, that was awakening” and that really gets you moving!