In an interest to gain feedback and information that would help them as consultants, TeamTech commissioned a set of interviews with some of their former clients for a Process Report. The focus of the interview was to obtain the clients' opinions and observations about the overall work of TeamTech and was not related to any specific assignment.

What worked well in this interaction?

Over 70% of respondents each discussed the effects TeamTech had had on their team or organization, or the Facilitation TeamTech performed.  Almost half talked about some sort of Strategic help given by TeamTech.  Respondents also appreciated the Preparation TeamTech puts into assignments, the Personal Improvement in the respondent him/herself, and the Action Orientation of TeamTech's work.  

Responses illustrate the flavor of how the TeamTech work helped individuals:

Facilitation:

• In looking at the department, I can see the difference from when TeamTech and SRS began working together. The language has changed; we have discussed new ideas, tools, processes to organize, thinking about the work and next steps. I'd not heard of the words "Reflective Facilitation", they helped us understand that ... everyone is responsible for facilitating, not just those in that role. 
• Their ability to engage people; facilitation skills...

Strategic

• ...more effective-at the strategic and big picture levels and drilling down deeper, too.
• ...Strategic coaching...
• Having their involvement has freed many up to participate in strategic direction, vs. doing the process.

Preparation

• The process:  meeting beforehand to figure where we would go as a team...they began with the end in mind to get where we wanted to be. 
• The preparation before the actual events that were facilitated-they met with me and helped me think about what outcomes I wanted, then paid attention to these during the process. 

Personal Improvement

• Because it made me more effective as an individual leader, it made the leadership and management teams more effective...

Processes They Use

Most responses praised the fact that TeamTech customizes processes for each client.   Over a third discussed their facilitation skills.  Two specifically mentioned the use of FFID (Facts, Feelings, Implications, and Decisions).

Some representative comments:

• They start with the end in sight, facilitation first, help the client get to solutions they need rather than directing the client to a solution. 
• They customize their processes and think hard about what to do.  They have a tremendous ability to fit a process to a problem-they understand the dynamics, complexity; they approach this in their thinking.  They practice what they preach. 
• They tailor-make the process.  They very much pull in people and engage the group-search for what adds value.  The process they taught in facilitation training; they get people to put their ideas on the table, what the ideas mean to them; prioritizing, deciding upon a timeline.  FFID:  facts, feelings, implications, decisions.

Value They Add

The greatest value added attributed to TeamTech is their ability to engage and teach others, ensuring that all voices are heard. 

Some varied comments:

• Lasting value-because they're good at teaching people to "fish"-people learn because they're good at the process.  It doesn't have to be through formal classes that they teach you.  They are willing to tell a person where s/he is weak.
• They do have a unique approach of not having a canned product but engaging people in a process.  They have a set of skills-it's kind of messy with lots of twists and turns. 
• I identify often in groups those persons...who often shy back and don't speak up.  TeamTech is very democratic.  All voices are heard; their thoughts "show up on the wall."  How democratic their processes are impresses me most. 

Differences They Make...

The spontaneous discussion of differences TeamTech makes in an organization and in an individual were also varied, but consistent in many ways. 

Organizationally

Regarding the organization, a third of the responses indicated that the work of TeamTech had improved abilities of those in the organization.  Application was also an important theme. 

• We have an agency full of people who are facilitators who've graduated from TeamTech's  class and managers who use TeamTech taught processes to lead meetings and work with stakeholders. 
• Key-helped us be more intentional on an ongoing basis with a strategic focus. That's easy to lose in day to day work.  They built it into our heads: how to apply it daily. 

The idea of teaching team members that their work could be useful was also valuable.

• They instill hope because they take on major systems, organizations that are hard to move.  People may feel that nothing will change; their process gives hope; people can see it working and feel it could happen for them. 

Personally

Most respondents felt that their work with TeamTech had improved them personally, or instilled confidence. 

• I became a better facilitator-more tools re: how to move a group, where to go next.  Even as a group participant I can be a facilitator from the table.  I have more confidence in group facilitation-more effective even when there's no facilitator--there's more ownership. 
• Strategic coaching enhanced my confidence in a leadership role.
• ...anyone who works with them picks up something.