In this stage of Cog’s ladder, group members cooperate because they know that teamwork is not about individualistic contributions and results; it is about group working towards group results. Successful football teams don’t work if everyone tries to hog the ball, they learn to pass it on, look out for each other, celebrate together.
“It’s not the team with the best players that win. It’s the players with the best team.”
There is a level of acceptance as people understand their role and place within the team and shift away from personal agendas. They accept that all viewpoints are worth listening to and they are willing to compromise. And, as momentum builds, team spirit starts to replace competition and cliques, so people work with greater creativity, vigour, and trust towards their mutual goals They learned to know each other, they have interacted by sharing their thoughts and ideas, they had positive conflicts, and now they are ready to work together effectively.
The leader celebrates collaborations, cooperation, and role models it. They don’t create competition within the team but expect others to work together to succeed. They create bonds that align and unify.
People identify with the team and become protective over it and the group treats any conflict that arises as a collective problem. They feel a sense of fairness, equality, and value within the team. There is a level of trust between members and willingness to make sacrifices for the team.
To move beyond the Cooperation Phase your team needs unanimity and empathy, so allow time for the group to "bed in" its new ways of working. These teams care about one another and demonstrate kindness.
Try socialising or team get togethers to further embed one team approach.
How To Lead Through This Stage
- Check everyone is feeling comfortable with the objectives as this is when you will start to see goals being achieved.
- Make sure you have a communication process in place so quieter and reserved team members can still have a voice.
- Consider ways the team are socialising, if they are just communicating through emails encourage them to call or meet in person to develop stronger relationships between your team.
Check out the team activity below which helps demonstrate the power of collaboration in group or team coaching.
Activity
One member brings a decision or approach to the table and asks everyone to contribute a view, idea, enhancement, or perspective on their approach. They contribute for no other reason than expanding, discovering, and growing.
The leader can role model this first by bringing everyone together and saying...
“I have an idea and I want to hear your ideas too.”
Pose your problem, idea or hypothesis and ask everyone either one by one, or in breakout groups, to help solve the problem and then collectively share thoughts.
You must resist giving your preferred solution, simply pose the problem or idea and then open it up to the group.
You are not only role modelling but teaching others how to collaborate.
Discover more from 3WH
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.