Working Together Effectively

(Personalized staff development tailored to your school)

Ron Rubin

Carla says she agrees with our decisions but then does whatever she wants. Mark doesn’t seem to know how to disagree without putting someone down. If Michelle was a better facilitator we’d get through our agenda in half the time. Jim says he heard me but I don’t think he really listens.

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The purpose of Working Together Effectively is to provide training and technical assistance aimed at strengthening the capacity of school teams and groups to function collaboratively, creatively and efficiently. Emphasis is placed on learning the processes, procedures and skills necessary for fulfilling participants’ needs, minimizing stress and maximizing productivity.

Working Together Effectively focuses on but is not limited to promoting:

1. Positive interdependence among team and group members (i.e., a mutual feeling that we are all in this together);
2. The development and internalization of interpersonal and social skills required for teams and groups to feel valued and to be productive;
3. Accountability (i.e., the honoring of agreed upon responsibilities and commitments; and
4. Short and long-term methods for assessing a team's or group's functioning.   

Training and technical assistance is offered on a variety of topics including:   

• Processes and procedures of collaborative teaming
• Positive communication and trust building (e.g., active listening, nonviolent communication)
• Conflict resolution
• Models of problem-solving, goal setting and decision making
• Facilitating effective and efficient meetings
• Coaching