Lesson Objectives

• Identify different working styles and communication preferences on your team

• Use AI to analyze team dynamics and create action plans for better collaboration

• Implement practical tools for aligning goals across different educational roles

• Transform unproductive meetings into focused, results-driven sessions

Do Now

Before we get started, take a moment to think about your last team meeting. Was it productive? Did everyone leave with clear next steps? Or did it feel like you were speaking different languages, with the administrator focused on compliance while the third-grade teacher just wanted to know what to do about Johnny's behavior?

You're not alone. Educational teams are complex ecosystems where different roles, personalities, and priorities often clash instead of complement each other.

What We’re Working with Today

This week, I had the privilege of observing part of our school board's governance meeting with our new superintendent. What struck me wasn't just their use of CliftonStrengths assessments, but how they used personality insights to actually refine their alignment and decision-making process. Each member understood not just their own strengths, but how to communicate with and leverage the strengths of others. I left with more hope than I’ve had in months.

Today we'll explore how to bring this same intentional approach to your educational teams, whether you're collaborating at the grade level, working between SpEd and general education, or leading a team as an administrator.

I Do, We Do, You Do

I Do: Here’s What I Created

This week, I created a comprehensive team analysis system that helps identify why teams struggle and provides actionable solutions.

Tools I used: Claude for prompt development, team communication frameworks, and meeting structure templates

I started by analyzing common team friction points in education:

• General education teachers feeling overwhelmed by IEP requirements, curriculum implementation, and intervention expectations

• SpEd teachers frustrated by lack of follow-through on accommodations, tedious paperwork, and impending deadlines

• Administrators caught between compliance demands, parent requests, and classroom realities

• Grade level teams where one person dominates while others check out

The breakthrough came when I realized these aren't personality conflicts… they're communication and alignment issues that AI can help solve.

We Do: Let’s Build This Together

Follow this step-by-step guide to transform your team dynamics:

Step 1: Team Personality Assessment Use this AI prompt to understand your team's working styles:

I need to analyze my [educational] team's working styles. Here are the team members and their roles: [list names and positions]. 

For each person, I'll provide their typical behaviors in meetings and collaboration. Please identify their likely working style, communication preferences, and potential friction points with other styles.

Team Member 1: [Name, Role] - [Describe their typical meeting behavior, communication style, and work approach]
Team Member 2: [Name, Role] - [Continue for each member]

Based on this analysis, provide:
1. Each person's likely working style category
2. Potential communication conflicts between specific members
3. Strategies for each person to communicate more effectively with others
4. Meeting structure recommendations that work for all styles
5. My potential biases based on my description of their behavior

Step 2: Goal Alignment Analysis Use this prompt to identify where your team's priorities might be misaligned:

Analyze the different priorities and goals of these educational roles working together: [list roles - e.g., 4th grade teacher, SpEd coordinator, reading specialist, principal].

For each role, identify:
1. Their primary responsibilities and success metrics
2. Common sources of stress or pressure they face
3. How their goals might conflict with other team members
4. What they need from other team members to be successful

Then provide:
- A unified goal statement that addresses everyone's core needs
- Specific ways each role can support the others
- Warning signs that priorities are becoming misaligned

Please ask me clarifying questions if you need more information on each person's specific duties and expectations.

Step 3: Meeting Makeover Transform your meetings with this structure prompt:

Create a meeting agenda template for [type of team meeting - e.g., grade level planning, SpEd team, administrative team] that:

1. Addresses the different working styles present: [list the styles identified in Step 1]
2. Includes time for both big-picture discussion and concrete action planning
3. Ensures every team member has a meaningful role
4. Ends with clear, assigned next steps
5. Takes no more than [desired time limit]

Include:
- Pre-meeting prep requirements
- Agenda with time allocations
- Discussion facilitation techniques
- Decision-making process
- Follow-up structure

Step 4: Communication Bridge Building Create personalized communication strategies:

Based on our team analysis, create specific communication templates for common scenarios:

[Fill in your own, e.g.:
Scenario 1: When the SpEd coordinator needs to communicate new requirements to general education teachers
Scenario 2: When a classroom teacher needs to escalate concerns about student support
Scenario 3: When an administrator needs to address team conflicts
Scenario 4: When the team needs to problem-solve a complex student situation]

For each scenario, provide:
- Key points to include
- Language that resonates with each team member's style
- Potential resistance points and how to address them
- Follow-up actions needed

You Do: Your Mini Task for the Week

Now it's your turn! Choose one of these implementation tasks:

Option A (Team Member): Run the Team Personality Assessment prompt for your next meeting. Share insights (diplomatically!) to start a conversation about working styles.

Option B (Team Leader): Use the Meeting Makeover prompt to redesign your next team meeting. Test the new structure and collect feedback.

Option C (Communication Focus): Identify one recurring team friction point and use the Communication Bridge Building prompt to create a new approach.

Bonus Challenge: Survey your team about their biggest collaboration frustrations, then use AI to analyze the responses and create targeted solutions.

Think-Pair-Share

• Think of 3 communication breakdowns you've experienced in team settings and what you think caused them

• Pair up with a colleague to compare experiences and test some of the AI prompts together

• Share your results with our community of educators and connect with other Edumators who are transforming their classrooms with AI and automation.

Exit Ticket

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