Chamber University>Articles of the Month>December

Building Bold Teams
By: Deborah Ooten, PhD.
CEO, Conscious Dynamics, LLC®

Communication and leadership are two of the most important factors that drive the climate of an organization. Emotionally and socially intelligent leaders recognize the importance of addressing communication issues by providing innovative team training to create a culture that is dynamic, trusting and transparent. The key issues to address in any culture, from the smallest to the largest are: communication (verbal, nonverbal, intentional and unintentional), giving and receiving feedback, conflict (constructive and unconstructive), conflict resolution, electronic communications, and trust.

We are spending more time at work, engaging in work related activities and socializing with our colleagues away from work. It is essential that we develop a culture that promotes healthy communications and compassionate interactions on and off the job.

The most effective way to increase healthy communications is to elevate the individual’s emotional intelligence level. The most effective way to do this is by using the Enneagram Personality System. The Enneagram teaches individuals how to know oneself and others on a deeper, more connected level. This deeper understanding enhances successful contributions to self, team and culture. People with emotional intelligence have more realistic self assessment,  have greater self acceptance, experience less stress, demonstrate better relational skills, are more effective on teams and have a “real” awareness of the concept of “personal responsibility.”

The retention/loss of talent is one of the most costly expenses in any company. These costs can be mitigated by providing state of the art training for your company. The Conscious Dynamics® Process specializes in providing companies with training, consulting and practices that strengthen the emotional intelligence of all members of the team.

Daniel Goleman states in “Primal Leadership,” 50-70% of  employees’ perceptions of  their organization's climate is attributable to the actions and behaviors of their leader and his/her ability to  communicate effectively. A leader creates the environment that determines people's moods at the office and that, in turn, affects their productivity and level of engagement. Conscious, transparent and compassionate communication is the key to dealing with any issue that arises on the team.

Bold teams do not just happen but are created one person at a time. The Conscious Dynamics Process® for team building transforms teams by creating increased communication, higher emotional intelligence, transparent conversations and greater performance. Individuals and teams will experience greater cohesiveness and enhanced creativity as they rise to meet the opportunities and challenges faced in keeping pace with the demands and changes in today’s market. The Conscious Dynamic Process® teaches skills that are vital to the development of both emotional and social intelligence. Through experiential practices, participants learn how to speak to another’s listening, give and receive effective feedback and engage in practical conflict resolution skills.

Be the change that you are looking to create! Increase the consciousness of your team, one person at a time, in a time when change is the only thing that seems constant. Help create a team that is prepared to face the challenges of a world that is shifting rapidly.

© Deborah Ooten, PhD. - 2008