TEAM BUILDING AT GOOD SHEPHERD SEMINARY, COIMBATORE

Dr. Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre was invited to facilitate a Team Building workshop at Good Shepherd College (Inter-diocesan Seminary) at Coimbatore on 4-5 June, 2019. All the staff members (14 of them) participated.

Good Shepherd College is located in a very pastoral setting some 20 km from the heart of the city on the Coimbatore – Pollachi Road. It was begun in 1984. There are some 70 students of philosophy and theology from 9 different dioceses. The staff also hail from different dioceses.

Through research-based data and theory from Organizational Psychology and experiential exercises Dr. Parappully presented the essentials of a coherent and effective team.

Through Assessment tools he helped the participants to evaluate the strengths weakness of the staff as a team and helped them discover pathways to greater cohesion and effectiveness.

All participants found the workshop very helpful. It provided them an opportunity to share freely and openly about issues that affected team performance. The two days’ processes had helped them understand one another better and become a more cohesive tam. A foundation had been laid for better team performance on which they could build further.

Participants were especially appreciative of the experiential and participatory methods used. This was quite unlike the workshops and seminars they were used to.

BOSCONET AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

BoscoNet, the Delhi-based organization involved in raising resources for supporting Don Bosco works throughout India, held a training programme at Sumedha Centre from April 30 to May 4. 2019.

The participants were the staff from BoscoNet’s New Delhi office, leaders of BoscoNet teams from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkota, Mumbai, Pune, and Trichy and the Salesian Directors of BoscoNet. There were 15 in all.

The first evening was devoted to introductions and learning to get to know one another.

The second day was devoted to Team-Building sessions. These were facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre. Through input, experiential exercises and videos, Dr. Parappully provided understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of effective teams and helped participants analyze their own teams and strategise to enhance their effectiveness.

The training was well appreciated by the participants. Some participant comments:

The training was “very beautifully facilitated. It provided beautiful insights. An environment was created where we could have frank and free sharing.”

“Very, very interesting. There was freedom to speak out, which we could not have had otherwise. Helped to understand ourselves and our teams better.”

“The process was followed was very effective. It was step-by-step, interactive and participatory.”

“Extremely useful. Helped to be a team. Enhanced our effectiveness. Helped to identify problems and find solutions.”

“The dynamics presented useful not only in the team but also in other settings – like in my family relationships.”

“We need such useful training more often.”

The third and fourth days were devoted to organizational matters. These sessions were facilitated by Fr Noel Madichetty and Fr Vincent Thamburaj, the Director and Asst. Director of BoscoNet respectively.

The participants were highly appreciative of the atmosphere and the hospitality offered at Sumedha Centre.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT FOR IMS GENERAL COUNCIL

The General Council of the Indian Missionary Society (IMS) attended at three day (April 3-5, 2019) Team Development programme at Sumedha Centre.

The programme was facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre.

The focus of the programme was on building a more cohesive team. Time was also spent in evaluating team performance and choosing priority goals and plan of action for the next six years.

The Council found the programme immensely useful and appreciated the methodology used and the style of facilitation.

The Council was also very appreciative of the welcome, hospitality as well as the congenial environment at Sumedha Centre.