When to apply it

Team coaching is a very effective form of coaching, since several of the directly involved are present during a session. This eliminates all kinds of filtering, with the following effects:
Interaction patterns show themselves in the here and now; there is no reported speech, and thus less coloring.
There is no time difference between events and the coaching. Because of this the coaching concerns the real feelings, not those that later are ‘re-felt’, probably in a bit different way. Because of this, the real themes can immediately be addressed, whether at an emotional or rational level.

How does it work

I come and sit in on a meting. At any point I can ask for attention, and ask a question. Teams are usually fine with that. The questions that I ask, can be related to the content, but more often address the procedure, the interaction, or influences that I can sense, but that no one is touching.

Effects

Asking questions has a disruptive effect on the usual patterns in the group conversation and makes room for new patterns. Because the predictability is lessened, Group members get an impulse to reflect on their own behavior and its effects.

The questions highlight that everyone has several possibilities to steer the group conversation, next to content and sending messages. Group members are often very surprised at the effectiveness of switching between all these possibilities, and after a while they start imitating my interventions.

As soon as there is more room in a conversation, one can turn to the quality that is already there, instead of focusing on what people do not want and deficiencies. This quickly improves the atmosphere in a team.