Janice Caillet on What Really Matters About Being in a Team

Team Dynamics as the Core of Organizational Change: The discussion strongly emphasizes the importance of teams as the fundamental unit for driving successful organizational change. The traditional model of individual-to-organization change is deemed less effective than an individual-to-team-to-organization approach.

• Common Purpose and Shared Goals: Aligning individual team members, team purpose, and organizational vision/mission is critical for creating strong bonds and a sense of belonging within the organization. This alignment fosters high performance and a "felt sense of common purpose" beyond just a cognitive understanding.

  Importance of Human Connection: The transcript highlights research pointing to meaningful relationships as the key factor in long-term health and happiness. This reinforces the need for organizations to prioritize fostering strong bonds between individuals and within teams.

  Ideas and Facts:

  • The "Powerful Core Bond" Model: Janice introduces a visual model representing the interconnectedness of individual team members, their team, and the larger organization. This model emphasizes how shared purpose and goals act as the energetic bond connecting all levels.

  • Facilitated Process for Establishing Common Purpose: A detailed process is outlined involving preparation, incubation, facilitated sessions, and post-work. This process helps teams define their common purpose and link it to the unit and organizational vision/mission.

  • The Role of Vision and Mission: The discussion emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with the organization’s vision and mission, moving beyond mere words to a deeper understanding and emotional connection.

  • Team Member Purpose (TMP): The concept of TMP is introduced, suggesting that aligning individual purposes with the team and organization creates even stronger bonds and higher performance.

  • Human-Centered Approach: Janice highlights the organization’s commitment to being human-centered, focusing on development, support, and care for both practitioners and clients.