Observer’s Guide™

Team observers use the Observer’s Guide to report on group dynamics as members engage in a problem-solving activity. The guide helps observers provide constructive feedback by directing their attention to specific behaviors that promote or inhibit group performance.

Audience: Any temporary or permanent group or team responsible for solving problems and making decisions (including ad hoc groups or intact teams participating in team-building programmes)

Most Frequently Used for:

• Providing teams with a tool for measuring and monitoring their group processes and performance
• Enabling the monitoring of multiple teams during team-building programmes (and, in particular, programmes involving a large number of participants)
• Sharpening the interpersonal and analytical skills of team members
• Improving the quality and acceptance of organisational decisions

Time Required: 15 minutes to provide feedback

Format: Paper Self-Scored

Feedback Provided: Observers provide the team with feedback relevant to interpersonal processes (listening, supporting, differing, participating) and rational processes (analysing the situation, identifying objectives, considering alternate strategies, discussing adverse consequences).

Presentation of Results: Observers provide verbal feedback either midway through or at the end of the problem-solving process.

Associated Outcomes: The rational group processes measured by Observer’s Guide are directly related to solution quality and synergy; the interpersonal processes are more directly related to solution acceptance and consensus.

Research and Development by: Robert A. Cooke, PhD

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