Departments and Teams

The seamless coalescing of of diverse individuals toward the execution of a shared goal is one of the most incredible things to witness.  In departments, centers, institutes, and units across Dornsife, when a team comes together effectively, the results are truly greater than the sum of its parts.

In these situations, not only does the center succeed, but each person is personally enriched through the positive working relationships forged working side-by-side with colleagues, and through the collective pride that is felt when a team succeeds together.  This is reflected in a greater sense of individual well-being, in which members of that team feel a sense of belonging and connection, feel useful and valued for their contributions, and experience a better overall quality of life and fulfillment.

Yet, even for these incredible teams and groups, a series of forces both internal and external exert great on individuals, interpersonal relationships, processes, and policies.  The key difference is that in successful groups, individuals and their leaders are self-aware, adaptable, and seek to identify emergent challenges and correct them before they fester and undermine the mission.

A “culture” is nothing more than a series of behaviors and beliefs on repeat that persist over time, so as to become “the way things are.”  For some, the inculcation of positive behaviors is a blessing.  For others, the calcification of problematic behaviors is fatal, and leads to interpersonal conflict, distress, poor productivity, and ultimately, exceptional staff and faculty leaving.  

Yet, when framed as a series of behaviors, we find our path forward.  Behaviors can be changed or extinguished just as easily as they can be formed, practiced, and ingrained.  All that is needed is courage to take an objective look at the behaviors that define a department, and the courage to work with everyone to define a new way of behaving that is inclusive, fair, and adaptable to the modern academic world.

We have extensive experience conducting tailored, quantitative and qualitative assessments of academic departments, units, and teams.

We work with senior leadership and groups to develop surveys and focus groups to provide reliable data on department culture, norms, civility, transparency, and well-being.

We work with senior leadership to understand what the results mean, and how to use those data to develop a concrete path forward to improve the culture of a department.

Contact us for a consultation now.