True Directions Coaching, Teambuilding, Facilitation

Teambuilding and Facilitation

Mary Hulbert - True Directions - Coaching

Will your team, department, or company benefit from:

improved communication ?

higher level of engagement?

more trust?

a clear, compelling vision for the future?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then give me a call at 413-586-5125 to discuss an ideal program for your group.

I custom design experiential programs for many different kinds of teams — management teams, entire departments, boards of directors, small companies. I measure success by the following results:

"Mary has customized several team building programs to the specific needs of different groups within Stryker Biotech. Each has been very effective in enhancing relationships, trust, open communication, and helping us establish norms and a vision for our group. As a result, we have experienced greater support from other team members and more confidence in our collective ability to navigate change. Our team identity and performance have been noticeably strengthened. Mary designs great programs and delivers them with superb facilitation skills."

— Peter Gariepy,
Director of Manufacturing,
Stryker Biotech

Stronger relationships, more trust and an improved esprit de corps
A shared vision for the future with clear goals and next steps
Improved communication

Our experiential business team building programs build and strengthen teams quickly. Why strengthen your teams?

To increase your company's ability to overcome performance barriers
To ensure that your teams are more flexible and responsive to changing events and demands
To establish communications that support real-time problem solving and initiative
To provide a unique social dimension that results in increases in efficiency and an improved bottom line

Whether you want to improve communication, accelerate your ability to manage change, celebrate your successes or achievements, build trust, or motivate your team, my team and I will design a transformative experience that's right for your company.

How does it work?

True Directions 4 Step Approach to Enhanced Performance:

Discovery: We specialize in helping you clarify your goals and measures of success, the first crucial step.

Design: We tailor a one-day or multi-day program of activities to your situation and goals. For best results, we recommend off-site conference and outdoor learning centers with whom we often collaborate.

Delivery: Our teambuilding programs feature experiential challenges, physical or non-physical, to solidify working relationships, reveal team and individual behaviors, and to create a sense of collective focus. Facilitators conduct the activities and lead in-depth follow-up discussions using team coaching techniques.

Follow-up and Integration: After the program, we will schedule a follow-up phone call to assist you in identifying how you can capitalize on the momentum you've created.

Possible follow-up options include one-on-one coaching to integrate the learning from the activities into the work context, and a follow-up meeting/retreat with the team to celebrate the progress your team has made, remove any barriers to your continued success, and identify next steps.

"I took my entire sedation dental team to work with Mary on team building and leadership skills for several days, and we had the most amazing time. We came back to work renewed, more efficient, more productive and better able to work through interpersonal conflict. Our practice and team members are thriving. Mary has a unique ability to find the truth in the most kind and gentle fashion. We cannot thank Mary enough for the excellent program design and facilitation, and for all her hard work and diligence."

— Edward T. Dougherty Jr. DDS,
Owner, Bethesda Sedation Dentistry

Some sample models and activities

Activities:

Identifying norms and creating a team charter
Creating a vision for your team
Problem solving activities - outdoor and indoor
Team simulation
GPS scavenger hunt
Boat building
Ropes course

Models and Instruments:

Tuckman's Stages of Team Development
Blanchard and Hersey's Situational Leadership model
GRPI model of team effectiveness
Action Learning
DiSC behavioral model

Why choose us?

Top-Notch Facilitators: We engage only experienced, exceptional facilitators who deliver results and consistently receive high marks from participants.

Custom Designed Programs: You are the expert on your company or team and we are experts on experiential training and development. So, only together will we successfully design a program that can meet your specific goals and that is aligned with your company's values and culture. No off-the-shelf programs here!

Experiential Approach: I believe, and research shows, that adults learn best and are better able to change behaviors when the learning experience is engaging and involves strategic thinking. Experiential training and development is usually fun, always memorable, and comes in many forms - group challenges, outdoor adventures, simulations, and business-focused problem-solving, to name a few.

Off-site Conference and Outdoor Learning Centers: For best results, I recommend using off-site conference and outdoor learning centers with whom we often collaborate. Engaging with your colleagues away from the workplace often galvanizes a fresh perspective on team dynamics and work issues. The beautiful setting and natural surroundings can mark the learning experience as something out of the ordinary, while adding to the sense of renewal and the enjoyment of the day.

Fun: People learn better when they are having fun and there's a good quotient of humor in our teambuilding. Along with critical insights and new experiences, participants come away from the day(s) having laughed and had fun together, a wonderful antidote to the fast-paced, hard-charging life many are experiencing.