Enhancing Teams in the Workplace

Abstract

This article explores the literature on team-building, including its application to employee assistance programs and the relevant theories discussed within the field. In addition, the paper applies family systems theory, particularly experiential family therapy and structural family therapy, to team enhancing. The authors outline a model for team-enhancing that employee assistance professionals can use directly with the organizations they serve. The team-enhancing model consists of three phases: (1) Initial Contact and Assessment; (2) Team Assembly; and (3) Accountability and Follow-Up. The first phase is brief, with no sub-stages. Phase two consists of four stages. The third phase incorporates an accountability stage that offers the option of convening future team assemblies (i.e., meetings) to continue the team-enhancing process.

Key Words:

• Employee assistance program
• team-building
• team enhancing
• organizational consulting
• organizational intervention