HUMAN TEAMS AMPLIFIERS

The Human Teams Amplifiers source method is a way to make sense of how a team of people can collectively find meaning, realise purpose and explore potential.

The Human Teams Amplifiers concept is based on the natural human behaviour of teams seeking certainty as they navigate the uncertainty and complexity of group behaviours. The typical result of this seeking of certainty is that contracts are  created as a method of ensuring certainty of team performance and to minimise variations in procedure.  In reality, however, the creation of team contracts, both explicit and implicit, tends to have the effect of closing down possibilities and reducing potential. The Human Teams Amplifiers takes a different approach. Rather than contracting team relationships and shrinking them down, the Human Teams Amplifiers method is a way of expanding possibilities and amplifying team potential.

The purpose of the Human Teams Amplifiers is to amplify team potential by understanding identities, needs and beliefs in any situation. Although people in a team can often think that their identities, needs and beliefs are unchanging  across situations, they are heavily influenced by the context of the other members of the team, which will change from situation to situation. The Human Teams Amplifiers provides a way for a group of people to make sense of who the team actually are, what the team is doing and why they are doing it in any situation. It also provides a way to make sense of what the team needs and what its purpose is in that situation and opens up to exploring collective team beliefs and potentials.

• • To identify group perceptions
• • To identify group roles and responsibilities
• • To identify group motivations and collectively meaningful work
• • To understand group needs
• • To realise collective purpose
• • To articulate collective beliefs
• • To explore collective potential
• • To orient group perceptions and perspectives
• • To differentiate individual value and need within the team
• • To describe collective viewpoints
• • To open up possibilities and opportunities for group action
• • To move beyond in-group preconceptions

Human Teams Amplifiers Cards and/or App and/or Post-Its Black Sharpies Quiet, preferably private space

All participants are provided with a set of Human Leaders Amplifiers Cards and/or App and/or Post-Its. Depending on budget, the cards can be written on with black Sharpies. If budget is limited, the cards can simply be used as prompts and responses are written on post-its with black Sharpies. Invite participants to answer the Human Teams Amplifiers questions by identifying and choosing a specific challenge that they are engaging with.

Participants may already have a particular group issue that they wish to amplify. If not, invite participants to name a team challenge that they are currently navigating or ask them to to describe an uncertain situation that they are keen to clarify. Always ensure that participants choose a specific situation or challenge to set the context for the Human Teams Amplifiers questions.

The Human Teams Amplifiers process is structured as seven questions, asked in sequence. For each question, ask the participants the question and invite them to write down their answers on the Human Teams Amplifiers Cards and/or App and/or Post-Its. Allow 3 to 5 minutes for answering each question. The sequence of seven questions is:

WHO ARE WE?

Ask the participants the question ‘Who are we as a team in this situation?’

WHAT DO WE DO?

Ask the participants the question ‘What do we do as a team in this situation?’

WHY DO WE DO IT?

Ask the participants the question ‘Why do we do it as a team in this situation?’

WHAT DO WE NEED?

Ask the participants the question ‘What do we need as a team in this situation?’

WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE?

Ask the participants the question ‘What is our purpose as a team in this situation?’

WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?

Ask the participants the question ‘What do we believe as a team in this situation?’

WHAT IS OUR POTENTIAL?

Ask the participants the question ‘What is our potential as a team in this situation?’

After participants have answered all seven questions, invite them to share their answers or any awarenesses that may have emerged for them. Give the participants the choice to share their answers with the group.

After participants have shared their answers to specific questions, ask the more general question of how their answers have amplified awareness of their specific challenge or particular situation.

Ensure that participants identify a specific challenge or particular situation.

Participants may ask questions like ‘what do you mean “who are we?”?’ Answer by inviting them to identify who they are as a team in that particular situation.

Participants can usually answer ‘ ‘Who are we?’ and ‘ ‘What do we do?’ quite quickly. They may slow down or be challenged by ‘ Why do we do it?’

When answering ‘ ‘What do we need?’ , participants, particularly those who work in a technical environment, will list technical specifications or requirements. Participants may also answer with goals or objectives. Invite participants to state what they collectively need. If participants are challenged by this question, depending on the group, ask them what they desire or yearn for.

Participants who are knowledge workers or who work in an expertise rich environment they feel that they have to answer the questions immediately. Emphasise that there are no right answers and that they should take the time to be reflective and see what answers emerge for them.

At the end of the process, invite participants to share any answers that surprised them or that they felt may have been out of character for them.