If you’re thinking of planning a team building event, your first stop should be a team building consultant.
Why? It’s simple. Even though you know your team better than anyone, a good consultant will help you evaluate how to meet the challenges you face to help you achieve your goals.
If you’ve never worked with a team building consultant before, you’re in luck; good ones are out there. Most of them offer their own team building programs but I think that’s okay. If you’re talking with a professional who has your team’s best interest at heart, it’s fine that they have interest in actually providing your team program. In full disclosure, that’s what we do here at Kidbilly Music.
Here are a few qualities to look for when your team needs a professional guide. I’ll also outline how to find the right person to help.
Qualities To Look For In A Team Consultant
1) Solid Experience
First of all, you need a consultant with the right background. This may apply to your specific company niche or it may not. If you need to address specifics like efficiencies or dealing with changes like technology challenges, a guide who understands your industry could be helpful.
But most often, what a good team building consultant needs is an understanding of your group dynamics and your goals. So how does an outsider get up to speed on all of this? It will be done by asking the right questions, by taking time to listen and learning about your team.
Regarding the importance of experience: If you were going to get brain surgery, would you want a neurosurgeon with 15 years of experience, who’s done groundbreaking research, and a pristine record? Or would you want someone who happened to walk past the hospital at the right moment?
You’d want the neurosurgeon. More importantly, you’d trust the neurosurgeon. Your team won’t trust someone who doesn’t have the experience to know what they’re talking about. Make sure to investigate references. After all, the quality of someone’s experience is as important as the number of years they’ve been working.
2) Unimpeachable Character
You’ll also need a consultant with unimpeachable character – a professional of the highest order who can be relied upon to prioritize you as a client.
Consultants like this are the ones who care the most about their clients, and who are willing to encourage clients to do things they may not want to do. They’re also the ones that know how to encourage reluctant team members to participate and see the upside of stepping outside the box.
To succeed, trust if vital. A good team building coach should be someone who makes your team feel at ease, even when she or he asks team members to do something they wouldn’t normally do. For example, our team songwriting program brings people out of their comfort zones, unless they’re already musicians! So, in order to succeed, our team has become expert at creating a safe environment and building trust very quickly. It’s not just luck, it’s a skill we’ve acquired and honed.
3) Stellar Communication Skills
All of this requires outstanding communication skills. It doesn’t matter how smart or experienced a consultant is. None of that skill or experience will translate unless they know how to communicate their points. Equallly important is the ability to hear what their clients are trying to say.
And…since your team is likely to be jaded by negative team building experiences, you’ll need a great communicator to get them involved. Someone who puts them at ease and makes them feel like a valued part of the activity.
When we bring a team together to write a song, the success of the exercise depends on communication. We have to be able to communicate with your team, and we have to get your team members to communicate with each other. Once you establish trust, then communication can begin to flow. Natural, easy communication is the foundation for success with every client-consultant engagement. If it’s awkward then forget it!
4) Creative Problem-Solving
One of the most important qualities to look for in a team building consultant is for someone who has great creative problem solving skills. After all, you’re hiring them to solve a problem for you: how to strengthen your team.
As such, you need someone who can take a look at the problems and challenges set before them and run with them. You don’t need a repeat of the same old stock routine. You need someone who will provide your team with a new perspective and a effective approach.
Finding A Team Building Consultant Who’s Right For You
It’s one thing to recognize the qualities of a great consultant. It’s another thing to find someone great. Before you begin an active search, consider these elements.
Consider Your Team Dynamic
Start by thinking about your team dynamic. How does your team work together? What’s their communication style? What are their communication problems? When they have rough patches, what’s the source of them? How could they be a stronger team? What leadership style do they respond to?
If some of those questions seem out of reach, then think about it this way. What would you like to change? What would you like to do better? If you can at least answer these two questions, then you’ll have good conversation points to share with potential people who you are vetting to work with.
Search, Search, Search
Once you have a handle on your needs, it’s time to search. When you search team building or team building consultants, a ton of results will come up. Trust your gut. If someone’s business looks cheesy, it probably is.
After you narrow down your options to a few choices that seem to resonate, check credentials and check past experience. Look at reviews and testimonials. Someone with in-depth experience should have a deep trove of satisfied clients.
If you like what you see, schedule time to speak with your would-be consultant about how they would work with your team. Share your challenges and goals and see what the response is. You should feel comfortable. You should feel enthused and at ease with whoever you end up working with.
The Power Of Collaboration
Ultimately, working with a consultant to help improve your team’s performance is all about collaboration. The person you hire should feel like a collaborator and not a bossy leader. They should be enjoyable to be around and they should have the ability to motivate and inspire. If the dynamic feels good, then it probably will be good.
I hope you’ll consider the work we do here at Kidbilly Music. Helping you succeed makes us happy. Get in touch to get your team on track for success.