About the Author

Dr. Valerie Dhanens holds an M.S. In Adult Continuing Education, an M.A. in Organizational Development, and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems.   She wrote Making Magic: Building Effective Teams to pass on what she knows to others, and to reinforce the benefits of team-based organizations.  She believes strongly in the idea that even an entry-level employee has suggestions for doing the job better and that teams provide the framework for solving problems and making decisions related to their work.

Her teambuilding knowledge and experience was initially gained while employed for 20 years with Deere and Company, world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment, and with Nestle USA, the world’s largest food manufacturer.  In the past ten years she has continued to conduct sessions for faculty groups at local colleges and for groups within her present organization.

Finally! A complete “how-to” guide to teambuilding sprinkled with just a dash of theory.  This step-by-step approach to planning, preparation, and facilitation is designed to unleash the power of teams.  In an era when employment relationships have shifted from long-term and stable to short-term and contingent, it is essential to engage employees in experiences that promote team work and a respect for their contributions.

For the consultant or training professional Making Magic is designed to answer the questions:

• What skills and abilities are needed to facilitate effective teambuilding?
• How do I prepare for a teambuilding session?
• How can participant resistance be overcome?
• What exercises can I use to gain participant commitment to the team and its mission?
• How can I ensure than any gains during the teambuilding are maintained after the session?

Seven of the book’s 10 illustrated chapters combine a variety of exercises with instructions for creating maximum impact within a teambuilding setting.  In the remaining three chapters the author shares what she has learned from facilitating hundreds of workplace teams not only through an initial teambuilding experience but subsequent sessions as well.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Preface: The Role of the Magician
Intuition
Knowledge
Skills
Experience
Chapter 1: Setting the stage
Team Needs Assessment
Logistics
Informing the Participants
Sample Teambuilding Session Agenda
Chapter 2: Sizing Up the Crowd
Personality Inventories
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
The FIRO-B
Team Inventories
Chapter 3: Getting to Know You
My Asset Allocation Chart
My Badges of Honor
“Let Me Introduce Myself”
Chapter 4: Focusing the Team
The Big Picture Exercise
The Power of Team Work
Chapter 5: Warm-Up Exercises for Intact Teams
The Zin Obelisk Task
Farmer Dell’s Land Task
Chapter 6: Exploring Team Issues and Relationships
Hop ‘Till You Drop Exercise
The Perception Exercise
Shuffle the Deck Exercise
My Roles and Responsibilities Exercise
My Inner Circle Exercise
Chapter 7: Getting Down to Business: Team Goals, Leadership, and Decision Making
The Power/Commitment Exercise
Appreciative Inquiry
Exploring Team Values
Customer Interaction Exercise
Team Action Planning
Personal Action Planning
Postscript: The Magician Reflects
Support from the Magician
Support from Upper Management
Support from Upper Management
Support from the Organizational Culture
Bibliography
Index

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