As an organizational and team coach, I coach a sector within a larger organization. One of the goals of the sector is to lead as a management team (MT) more as one team, instead of each for himself. Below I explain a specific moment from the process.

During the first meeting we work on the listening climate. In doing so, we provide a method for the MT to work with immediately the next day. The method we choose, Functional Subgroups - the core methods of SCT - is to teach the group to connect with each other and bring in a difference.

We start in triplets, where MT members tell each other what is going on in their department. The exercise is a stepping stone to connecting and building on each other in a conversation with the entire MT.

Some reflections on the group discussion: Karin, with a laugh: ‘I thought I was pretty good at listening, but in this exercise I experience that it's more difficult than I thought. ’ Maurice joins in: ‘Yes, it is really active listening and therefore we got to the heart of the matter quicker and we were not beating around the bush’. Ronald follows, ‘I noticed that we reach depth in the conversation sooner. ‘ To which Johan points out, ‘I found it quite difficult: it takes the momentum out of a conversation.’ With some irritation in his voice, he says, ‘Sometimes I just want to say something and then I can't.’ Irene adds; ‘Yes, I noticed that sometimes after summarizing, I didn't remember exactly what I wanted to say myself.’

The reflection shows that the ‘connect first, then build on’ provokes different reactions for the team. The team audibly breathes a sigh when we point out that you don't always communicate through connecting, and we laugh about it. For example, you apply it when there is a difference of opinion.

Two weeks after the meeting, we hear from the manager that a comment about talking through each other and listening to each other again is being made more often in MT meetings and beyond. The team wants to continue with the coaching program.

As a team coach, I see that teams can handle more complex problems when they learn to Functional subgroups. That gets me excited. The more I develop my skill in SCT, the more I experience that connecting with a team in introducing Functional subgroups (namely a big difference) is an art in itself.

*) participants' names are fictitious.