Team coaching
Are you facing the challenges of restructuring or merging teams and need them to align and deliver swiftly?
Do you want to help fragmented teams reconnect and not just succeed, but exceed expectations?
Are you looking for leaders to collaborate effectively and deliver value that goes beyond individual contributions?
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving workplace, marked by rapid technological advancements and shifting societal expectations, change is the only constant. The effectiveness of your team is no longer measured solely by past successes; the future demands agility, innovation, and resilience.
For leaders, tapping into the collective intelligence of teams is essential to navigate this complexity. Meeting the dynamic needs of stakeholders and executing strategic priorities requires effective collaboration and communication. Hybrid work environments, blending in-person and virtual interactions, are now the norm. Embracing this dual approach is vital for fostering engagement and driving success.
About me
I am the Managing Director of Zebra Blue, an Organisational Psychologist, internationally accredited executive coach, and systemic team coach with extensive experience in Corporate and Investment Banking.
I partner with organisations to tackle the following challenges:
- Engage team members, clients, and stakeholders to identify current and future needs.
- Align teams around a common purpose that meets stakeholder expectations.
- Leverage the collective wisdom and capabilities of the team to achieve strategic objectives.
- Overcome limiting patterns of thinking and behaviour that hinder success.
- Foster trust among team members, clients, and stakeholders.
- Navigate conflicts both within and between teams.
- Adapt swiftly to changes within the organisation and the broader landscape.
- Embrace new ways of working, including virtual collaboration.
Michele Wickham
Core principles of my approach
- Customisation: The coaching journey is tailored to meet the specific needs and context of each team—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
- Empowerment: The goal of the coaching process is to build the skills and capacity within the team for self-coaching in the future.
- Future-focused: We consider not just the team’s immediate needs, but what will be required as they move forward.
- Outward-focused: We prioritise the requirements of clients and stakeholders over internal team dynamics alone.
Who will benefit most?
- Leadership teams
- Newly formed teams
- Restructured teams
- Merging teams
- Teams needing to reinvent themselves to meet stakeholder requirements
- Groups of individuals who must collaborate effectively to enhance value for stakeholders
The coaching process
1. Initial discussion:
We begin with a complimentary one-hour conversation with the team leader to establish key outcomes, identify challenges, and understand the team’s working context.
2. One-on-one sessions:
These conversations with each team member allow me to understand unique challenges, motivations, and aspirations, fostering a safe space for open dialogue. By gathering these diverse viewpoints, we can identify common themes and address specific concerns that may affect team dynamics. This individualised approach not only strengthens relationships within the team but also informs the overall coaching strategy, ensuring that our collaborative efforts are aligned with the needs and goals of each member.
3. Team session:
Following the initial discussion, Michele will facilitate a three-hour session with the team. This time will be dedicated to building trust, connecting with each member, identifying key stakeholders, assessing current team dynamics, and uncovering potential barriers to success.
4. Design session:
The next step involves a collaborative ‘design’ session where Michele and the team co-create the remainder of the coaching journey.
Expected outcomes
- Comprehensive, honest feedback from key stakeholders.
- Pre-coaching and post-coaching team diagnostics for measurable progress.
- Clarity, focus, and a common purpose that drives delivery on strategic goals.
- Achievement of strategic objectives and enhanced value delivery.
- Transfer of skills and capability, allowing leaders and teams to coach themselves through future changes.
- Recognition as a team that adds value beyond the skills of its individual members.
- Enhanced ability to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances.
What others have said
While it was something we could never have foreseen when we started this journey with Matt and Michele, the current Covid 19 nationwide lockdown has stretched our team into a new way of work, and the lessons we learnt as part of the Systemic Team Coaching helped us adapt fast and fairly painlessly. We have shown our ability to self-organise, to remain resilient, to find new ways to connect, and to be real strategic partners to our senior leadership teams.
As a leader, I am grateful for the skills and insight shared by Matt and Michele, and for the mindset shift I have seen in my team. We are not the same team we were this time last year – we are exponentially stronger and more able to navigate our organisation and roles as a result.
When BMW ZA had to transition to a new IT philosophy and methodology namely Agile; there was only one woman that came to mind to assist as a change specialist. Because Michele is highly in demand it was quite a process to get access to her. Once the engagement started however I knew my instincts would pay off and that the wait was worthwhile.
Her mere presence brings clarity, depth within reflection and humility. Within the gap analysis phase she had to deal with various stakeholders on various levels with various temperaments. Her approach is direct yet there is a subtleness to it. As the strategic lead she involved me all the way. Michele is engaging, challenging, perceptive and realistic. I found her strategic plan to be the blended approach required by BMW ZA.
Michele has trained and taught me many of the coaching and leadership tools that I have personally used over the last 7 years. Michele has conducted numerous team interventions for myself and my executive teams while I was one of the Global Markets Heads at Rand Merchant Bank.
The quality and care taken over course planning, content, material and facilitation is of a very high standard. The desired outcomes have always been achieved.
I highly recommend Michele and the Zebra Blue team for any leadership team coaching, training or facilitation interventions that you may need.
Ready to begin?
Contact me to find our more about how I can help you and your team.