What images come to mind when you hear the words “team building?” Are you thinking about ice-breaker exercises or mandatory social events that are meant to promote team bonding? While those experiences can be great morale boosters, they often don’t delve beneath the surface to understand the dynamics within a team, which is critical to growth and performance.
At Capacity Group, we use the Hogan suite of leadership assessments to get at the heart of what makes a team tick and to give team members the insights and tools to work together more effectively. Here are just three scenarios where we have used Hogan assessments to successfully address team challenges:
- Team in conflict: Conflict in teams is normal and healthy, and being able to resolve it constructively is critical to success. With one client team, we used the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) to uncover potential sources of unmanaged conflict within the team. We found that the team members were split between two extremes in their communication styles. Some individuals felt threatened by blunt communication styles, while others were frustrated by the need to tiptoe around issues. Being able to surface this difference in team members’ personalities was a lightbulb moment for the group. They were then able to openly discuss what they needed from one another to communicate more effectively.,
- Remote team: Building strong relationships in a virtual environment is critical to many teams these days. We used the Motives, Values, and Preferences Inventory (MVPI) with one group that was meeting in person for the first time after working virtually across different countries and time zones for months. The MVPI illustrates what drives individuals at work and what gives them meaning in their professional lives. Through discussion, the members of this team were able to connect in a deeper way by understanding and sharing their values with one another. This discussion created a source of commonality among members of the group that they were able to return to when they needed to seek out a like-minded colleague.
- Team in transition: Whether positive or negative, change often causes stress in individuals and teams. We all know that when we are overwhelmed or stressed, we may not always show up as the best version of ourselves. The Hogan Development Survey (HDS) helps us identify areas of vulnerability or potential derailers under stressful circumstances. We worked with one team experiencing a high level of turnover and some stress related to changing roles and organization structure. Using the HDS, we were able to identify team trends that were watchouts for them. For example, many of the team members had a tendency to become skeptical under stress, causing them to show up as argumentative or critical. Unmanaged or misunderstood, this behavior lowers relationship trust. By openly addressing this dynamic within the team, we were able to help team members understand it and catch themselves when feeling triggered.
These are just a few examples of where Capacity Group has used the Hogan assessment tools to help teams dig beneath the surface and engage meaningfully in addressing their challenges. Our clients tell us that this work is far more impactful than the typical team-building exercises; furthermore, it gives them the language to name their issues and work through them together. If you have a team that might benefit from this approach, we would love to talk with you.
Up next, we’ll share how we have used the Hogan to help drive leader insights to get a team unstuck!