1. Off the Shelf Programs. Ever notice how one company's successful methodology never seems to transfer to other organizations no matter how many books, speakers, or training programs are built around it. It's because the experts mistakenly focused on the wrong target. Research has found no company ever published its success was due to a consultant or trainer; but when they discovered their own path, it made all the difference.
    

2. Letting the Past Be the Past: Many facilitators are trained into believing that bad, dysfunctional behaviors should be forgotten. The past is the past, let's focus on the future. Yet ignoring the past is why their programs fail to have any lasting value. Our biology is not designed to forget. Engaging the past and owning the real source of dysfunction is the only way to kill the beast and free a group for high performance.
    

3. Thinking Self-Esteem Is Key: We're not saying it isn't, but research has found true bravery and courage to confront real issues stem from using a politically-incorrect method: SHAME.
    

4. Using Politeness Out of Respect: Ever see a failing team drowning in politeness because no one was brave enough to tell the truth? Respect means not hiding the real issues behind the facade of politeness. Great teams have relationships that are strong enough to handle any truth.
    

5. Ignoring Biology: What parts of the brain drive the source for people to justify non-team behaviors? Why is this important for our species? If your facilitator can't answer these questions, they can't help you because it is precisely this part that is responsible for the high failure rates of sustaining team performance.
    

(c) 2005 The SAGA Institute

Institute programs were designed upon these foundations. For more information on how these could apply in your organization click here.