Group, Team & Organizational Evaluations & Consults

At OpenBook, when we apply cognitive research to the way we communicate with colleagues, bosses, and the teenager at the convenience-store counter, we find two patterns reliably hazardous to interpersonal relationships.

Those of us with opposite preferences for the Associative and Sequential information-management systems; and, together or separately, those of us on opposite preferences for the Observer communications system, are at high risk for conflict. We use language differently, represent data differently, give whole categories of information different weights of importance. There is lesser, but nonetheless, significant potential for misunderstanding when we’re on opposite sides listener, mover, reader, and talker.

We often ignore or minimize valuable information when it comes to us from outside our preference.  At the same time, we can overvalue what activates our preferences.

In fact, what we call ‘chemistry’ in interviewing and hiring often results from an activation of our cognitive preferences, and can give us a false read on another’s qualifications.

Wouldn’t you like to be cognitively multilingual? Imagine how much more effective you’ll be. Team consults involve each member taking the survey and sharing the results with OpenBook and the other team members.

For some groups, each member will have an individual consultation prior to group work. With this option, the team starts with a 90-minute group call during which the group learns the particular challenges and opportunities activated by the team’s profile. Most of the call focuses on internal dynamics, and offers some view of how your group dynamics impact your clients and partners.

Teams who choose not to offer each member an individual conference proceed first to a 90-minute group call where you will develop metacognition in more general terms while still highlighting each individual’s most prominent dynamics. A second 90-minute call focuses on the group dynamics and strategies for communicating effectively within the group and with external constituents.

For groups larger than 12, an OpenBook leader will come on-site to offer a half-day session.