AMR Team Coaching

All Applied Research Management (AMR) teams are required to participate in team coaching sessions at least twice during their projects. Appointments occur at regular intervals, during weeks 3-5 of the AMR project and again during weeks 9-13. They are scheduled through an online scheduler, available on the CCLE course site for AMR.

Team Contracts

At the AMR Student Launch, teams develop a contract that will guide the team’s AMR work. During this exercise, each team member shares his/her personal goals, concerns and expectations for the project. The team develops a set of operating norms designed to maximize overall team performance during the study.

The team contract is a living document and should be revisited periodically to update goals and guidelines as appropriate to the team. Teams facing internal conflicts they cannot resolve themselves are encouraged to seek the assistance of the Director of Coaching and Team Skills.

Team Coaching Sessions

Engaging in coaching sessions individually and as an AMR team unit is as important as written deliverables or oral presentations to the company. Students consistently report that they find tremendous value in team coaching sessions. A number of AMR teams participate in additional coaching using the Birkman Method personality assessment. This is optional. Past student teams have reported that the assessment shed additional light on their self-understanding and how they might work together more effectively (and it’s just plain fun to see numbers behind the team chemistry).

During the AMR project, all teams will participate in two coaching sessions with Sara Tucker, Director of Coaching and Team Skills: a team process check and a facilitated feedback session. A Team Effectiveness component is incorporated into the AMR Program for all teams.

Team Process Check

A consistent challenge for all teams when projects start is getting organized to get the work done. This half-hour team process session occurs in weeks 3-4, and is focused on helping the team identify and address gaps in team effectiveness.

Midpoint Review and Midpoint Facilitated Feedback Session

Some important questions to ask your team at the midpoint: What is the team’s progress so far? Is the team having any communication or trust issues? Has it lost focus? Can it improve the process and make some changes? Does the team need to find a way to get re-energized? Are members anxious about meeting deadlines? Does the team need to revise the project framework? Does it need to break routines?

All teams are required to participate in a 90-minute facilitated feedback session at the midpoint (end of project first quarter or beginning of project second quarter). The emphasis of this session is on how to work efficiently and effectively as a team going forward.