University Uses Team Dimensions Profile to Break the Ice

The new president at a university wanted to initiate strategic planning sessions but faced negativity and skepticism from the employee population.

The president wanted to establish a common language among the various groups before moving ahead with strategic planning.

The Team Dimensions Profile was administered first to help create a common language.  The Team Dimensions Profile was referred back to as the interactions in the strategic planning sessions were facilitated and managed.

Dinner was held the night before the strategic planning sessions as a kick-off, including an activity that involved up-and-down cycles in a yo-yo company.  The activity was used to get people involved and to help them create the beginnings of a common language.  Everyone from security and maintenance to the academic disciplines and faculty spokespersons were involved.

The goal over the two days of training was to reach consensus on the university’s challenges for the next three to five years, and then to determine the measurable tactics and singular agenda.  After the sessions, there were half-day follow-ups with the chairpersons for each initiative to continue refining the process.  The training finished with a final session that brought all the interested parties back together.

Using the Team Dimensions Profile as an icebreaker was very effective in helping the university’s employee population get ready for strategic planning sessions.

The strategic plan has been embraced by the entire campus community and is a driving force for the university’s management.  In fact, because of the well-thought-out plan, the university has received several large grants and donations to fund the initiatives.

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