Team Assistance

Typically, facilitators and mentors are assigned to teams to assist in start-up and development. A mentor may be assigned to a team for its duration and also function as a bridge between the team and the organization. Facilitators and mentors are particularly useful for self-directed teams and serve to assist these team's rotational leadership. Facilitators and mentors are defined as:

• Facilitator - A facilitator can be thought of as a "coach" who assists the team, particularly during start-up. The facilitator establishes the model for and reinforces good communication and conflict resolution skills. Facilitators require special training and must master group dynamics and the team process.
• Mentor - A team mentor is usually an individual who is highly experienced in team functioning and building successful teams. It is also advantageous if the mentor has expertise in the problem area being addressed by the team. A mentor monitors team progress and assists the team as problems arise. A mentor may be an outside resource or a highly experienced individual from within the organization who has been trained in the mentoring process.

With self-directed teams, facilitators and mentors are particularly important in assisting rotating team leadership.