cart
Personal and Team Transformation
Team-building sessions are often transformational. Because high performance teamwork requires focus, self-sacrifice and very high trust amongst team members, the exercises and processes involved are challenging and require stretch.
The TetraMap makes the stretch of considering multiple perspectives, a bit easier to understand and digest. The process of discovering individual preferences is always fun, and debriefing and discussing what this means can open new paradigms of thought for many.
TetraMap is one of the greatest inventions because it shows that none of us
is perfect, but it also demonstrates that we can achieve perfection by working together.
M. Sedoglavic, Student, Waikato University, NZ
[The workshop] successfully stripped a team of 30 or so recruitment
consultants of their self-destroying egos and reminded us what we are made of
and what our strengths and weaknesses are. Rather than questioning why people
don't think and behave as I do, I now realize that our differences in the
workplace are just as, if not more important than our similarities. I have a
greater understanding of my personal relationships because of the theory you
introduced us to.
L. Sheldon, Personnel Consultant, Melbourne, Australia
Inviting people to share their own Earth, Air, Water, or Fire preferences is enjoyable. Asking them to celebrate these same attributes in others is more of a challenge. In team building, or in fact, in any relationship building situation, accepting the 'weakness' of others is vital. The first paradigm to break is that this so-called weakness, may be a strength that is simply misplaced, misaligned or mistimed.
I found the four Elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire to be very useful
categories when trying to look at the way a person or a group of people is
behaving at a holistic level. I realized that certain qualities of the Elements
that I had previously had absolutely no personal connection to, are not bad
qualities but are in fact essential to productive behavior. I realized that all
the four Elements complement each other and can help you become a more balanced
person.
R. Mercer, Student, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
It made me see all the personalities/qualities as positive and
interdependent. Before hand I'd sometimes feel intimidated by more
spontaneous, bossy (i.e. Fire & Earth) people but now I've come to
understand it all more. It's been so great because I feel I will understand
and consider people more now. Also it was comforting to meet people similar to
me and realizing how comfortable it was to be around Water and Air people, yet a
bit unproductive.
Anonymous
Building relationships is a challenging exercise in itself, whether in a team, the workplace, the home or the community. When you think of it, relationship building is a daily exercise. When we focus on specific skills to improve communication and relationships, the TetraMap comes in handy as a map based in something we are already familiar with Nature. The transition from the TetraMap of Nature to the TetraMap of Behavior is easy and painless. The map makes sense.
The TetraMap has given me a clearer framework from which to more easily
identify the working style of others and how to work with those people.
S. Bennet, Student, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ
However, we must constantly remind ourselves that the map is not the territory. The map is not reality, but it can help us to see ourselves in a different light with a sense of dignity, celebration and even fun. Understanding skills and techniques to improve communication in the workplace can often be a powerful catalyst to embracing a new way of seeing and behaving in the world.
The TetraMap is a simple, easy to understand concept that can be used at any
level within our organisation from managers through to manufacturing. Using the TetraMap to explain and work through peoples behaviors has enabled us
to develop teams into productive, motivated groups that understand, communicate and support each other in order to achieve the goals of the
group and the company.
G. Nathan, Employee Development Officer, Auckland, New Zealand
A bit of instant feedback... Just to let you know - I ran a session today with a small customer services team
(6 people) - the team had all the elements in it, which was great. Outcome: a
real appreciation for the other elements and also realizations that they were
incredibly adaptable and able to think, act... communicate with elements
completely different to them. I'll definitely use this again.
J. Waldman, Training Manager, Auckland, New Zealand
I recently purchased the Why Are You Like That? training pack and have used
it with great success in our business. The concepts are simple and easy to
relate to and are already starting to improve communication within teams.
L. Sparrow, Manager, Sydney, Australia