Library: Tools
Here you will find a collection of tools--typically in a worksheet format--we have developed and used with groups to help them 1) better understand the core concepts found in Extraordinary Groups and 2) apply those concepts to enhance their group's performance and experience.
The overall goal of using any of these tools is to help you and any of your groups begin to see and then be in groups differently. So that you can intentionally choose to do things that will encourage your group experience to be outstanding.
Please feel fee to download any of these items and use them to support more extraordinary group experiences! You can use what's here regardless of the role you play in any group--as a member, a leader, or a facilitator.
Overview of Model and Key Concepts. This replicates page 209 in Extraordinary Groups and includes our definition for an extraordinary group. There are many uses for this overview, including as a guide to observing group dynamics. One page.
Connecting Your Own Experience. For each of the sixteen core concepts found in Extraordinary Groups, we offer a definition and bullet points that help you to better undstand the essence of the concept. You are then asked to record examples of how you might have seen each of these concepts surface in a group experience. Four pages.
Extraordinary Groups at Work. Each of the eight indicators of an extraordinary group is defined, with some detail. You are asked to consider how your group reflects these qualities. Two pages.
Performance Indicators of Extraordinary Groups. This quick survey asks you to rate, on a 1-5 scale, how each of the eight indicators fit with your group's intent and behavior. Additional questions are offered to push your group's discussion further. One page.
A Team Building Exercise Strengths Survey. You are asked to rate your group in terms of the eight indicators of an extraordinary group: Which of these items are strengths? Which would you be wise to attend to as you move ahead? Specific directions are offered to those who want to lead or facilitate this team building exercise. Two pages.
Exploring Questions about Group Needs. For each Group Need, thought-provoking questions are listed--for you to answer yourself or for your group to answer. The intention is to build awareness of the Group Needs, increase understanding of how those needs show up for you personally or in your group, and explore what could happen in your group to meet those needs more intentionally. Two pages.
Personal Reflections on Six Group Needs. Each of the six Group Needs is listed. You are then asked to jot notes about when and how you might have observed each need surfacing or being met in a group experience. One page.
Taking Action to Meet Group Needs. Use this when you want people to think about questions they could ask or actions they could take in a group so that their own Group Needs--or those of others--are more likely to be met. One page.
Seeing the Group Needs at Work. Each Group Need is defined. For each, you are offered four examples of what you might see in a group if that need were being met. You are asked to identify other behaviors that would be a sign that the Group Needs are being satisfied by what your group does and how it goes about doing it. Two pages.
Seeing Group Needs at Work for Leaders. Similar to tool listed above, but with an additional column to add things that group leaders can do to help meet the Group Needs of group members. Three pages. [.docx]
Transformative Feelings Worksheet. You are asked to reflect on an extraordinary group experience you have had and then explore the feelings you associate with that experience: the transformative feelings of being energized, connected, hopeful, and changed! You are then asked to connect those feelings to how your Group Needs were met in your extraordinary group experience. One page.