EXTRAORDINARY
GROUPS:
How Ordinary Teams Achieve Amazing
Results
with
Geoff Bellman
Note your answers to these questions:
#1. What do you hope for when joining a group?
List three hopes.
Think of the most extraordinary group you’ve ever been part
of…
#2. What did that group do that help make it so fantastic?
List three actions.
#3. How did the group feel because of what they did together?
List three feelings.
Kathleen Ryan
&
Geoff Bellman
Our Starting Questions:
 Why do some groups achieve amazing
results while most do not?
 What do extraordinary groups have in
common that sorts them from others?
 How might we create these terrific results
more often?
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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The Field Study
 Sixty groups of 2-20
 Work, volunteer, personal life
 Self-identified as “amazing”
 Interviews with 1-3 members
 1.5 to 2 hour phone interviews
 Open ended questions and stories
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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An Extraordinary Group…
Achieves outstanding results
while members-individually or collectively-experience a profound shift
in how they see their world.
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Why Groups Are Important Today
 Individuals cannot relate to
organizations
 Organizations cannot relate to
individuals
 Individuals can relate to small groups
 Smal groups are the way to get things
done
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Eight Performance Indicators
1. Compelling Purpose
5. Embracing Differences
2. Shared Leadership
6. Unexpected Learning
3. Just-Enough Structure 7. Strengthened
Relationships
4. Full Engagement
8. Great Results
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Groups in Human History
 200,000+ years of living in groups
 5,000+ years of large organizations
 Survive together, perish alone
 Genetically informed to group
 Groups are our natural unit of work
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Six Group Needs
 Accept one’s self
while
moving toward own Potential
 Bond with others
while
pursuing common Purpose
 Understand Reality of the world
while
making an Impact
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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ACCEPTANCE:
Knowing and
appreciating
myself for who I
am.
POTENTIAL:
Sensing and
growing into my
fuller and better
self.
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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BOND:
Connections
among us that
create a shared
sense of identity
and belonging.
PURPOSE:
The reason why
we come
together.
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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REALITY:
Understanding and
accepting the
world as it is and
how it affects us.
IMPACT:
Our intention to
make a difference
and our readiness
to act.
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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And there is more…
Beauty: Wonder, Healthy, Vibrant, Sweet, Rare, Lovely
Discovery: Innovative, Rare, Audacious, Daring to Dream
Possibility: Positive, Hope, New, Pushing to Limits, Magical
Power: Enabling, Empowering, Confidence
Self: Natural, Worth, Awareness, Best, Higher, Alive
Challenge: Difficult, Problems, Irritating, Hard Work, Intense
Rewarding: Appreciation, Recognition, Fulfilling, Results, Win
Fun: Hilarious, Crazy, Good Time, Play, Happy, Laughter
Bond: Community, Tribe, Social, Unifying, Joined, Welcome
Energy: Amazing, Incredible, Juiced, Exhilarating, Charged, Wow
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Four Feelings
at the Heart of
Transformation:
Energized !
Connected !
Hopeful !
Changed !
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Did this experience energize you
or your group?
Do you feel more connected
to your group, purpose,
self, or the world?
Energized
Connected
Hopeful
Changed
Are you more hopeful about yourself,
your group, or your world?
Do you feel changed by
this group experience?
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Energized
Connected
Hopeful
Changed
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Transformation:
a fundamental shift
in individual perception that
accelerates behavior change
and personal vitality.
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS
FOUR TRANSFORMATIVE FEELINGS
EIGHT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
SIX GROUP NEEDS
INSTINCTIVE DRIVES
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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High Performance
Behaviors and Techniques
• Meeting Management • Leadership Strategies • Group Dynamics
• Employee Engagement • Team Development
• Collaborative Decision Making • Conflict Management
• Brainstorming • Dialogue • Problem-Solving
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Use Model to…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Design a meeting or event
Debrief a group experience
Frame questions
Pursue transformation
Define motivating behavior
Clarify individual needs
Observe a group at work
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Use Model to…
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Shape group purpose
Explore an individual’s motivation
Delve into deeper meaning of group work
Assess group leadership needs
Foundation for change project
Highlight the value of relationships
Support creative disagreement
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Energized
Connected
Hopeful
Changed
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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www.extraordinarygroups.com/extras
geoffbellman@gmail.com
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Geoff Bellman’s Books…
 Extraordinary Groups. (w/K. Ryan) Jossey-Bass. 2009.
 The Consultant’s Calling. (2nd ed.) Jossey-Bass. 2002.
 Getting Things Done When You Are Not in Charge. (2nd
ed.) Berrett-Koehler. 2001.
 The Beauty of the Beast. Berrett-Koehler. 2000.
 Your Signature Path. Berrett-Koehler. 1996.
 The Quest for Staff Leadership. Scott-Foresman. 1986.
Bellman/Ryan © 2010
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Kathleen Ryan’s Books…
 Extraordinary Groups. (w/G. Bellman) Jossey-Bass. 2009.
 The Courageous Messenger. (w/Oestreich & Orr) JosseyBass. 1996.
 Driving Fear Out of the Workplace. (w/Oestreich) JosseyBass. 1991.
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