The document provides guidance for understanding different department situations and managing team dynamics. It includes: 1. A balloon task activity where participants must first build a boat then change to a plane to demonstrate adaptability when faced with change. Reflection questions consider how behavior matches DISC profiles and if natural behaviors changed. 2. Suggestions for applying the balloon task to a department including considering DISC profiles and roles team members may take. Adapting natural behaviors to get the most from the task and team is discussed. 3. Scenarios pose challenges common in departments and suggest proceeding with open communication, empowering staff strengths while avoiding micromanagement, and discussing mistakes to learn from them.

1. Understanding my
department
11.20-12.30 Lucie Purves
and Jordan West-Pratt

2. Group yourself into one of
the following:
1. New to the school
2. New to the role but established in the school.
3. Existing HOD and know your department
well.
4. Existing HOD but new people in their
department? Don’t know them so well.
What are the challenges and advantages of
these situations (5 Min)

3. Lucie. Balloon Task

4. The Task
You are attending an ESF CPD Day on a
deserted Island.
With your group you need to build a boat to
transport the people in your group back to
Hong Kong.
You have 20 minutes to complete the task.

5. ALERT!
Unfortunately, a tropical storm is settling in
and stormy seas make travelling by boat too
hazardous.
You must now build a plane rather than a boat,
and it must be sturdy, as high winds are likely.
You have ten minutes to build your plane

6. Application to DISC
Did your behaviour in the task match
your disc profile?
Who was Dominant?
Who was Influencing?
Who was a Supporter/steady?
Who was Compliant?

9. Reflection
1. Did you change your natural behaviour for/during the
task?
2. How did you feel when the original instructions to the
task were given? What about when the instructions
changed? Did your behaviour change?
3. What was your change strategy?
4.Did a leader emerge? If so what DISC type?
5. What was each person’s role during the task?

10. How can this help you manage your
team? (10 min)(Lucie)
Think about doing the Balloon Task with your
department.
● Loosely what would be their DISC profile?
● What roles would each of your team play in
the task?
● How could you get the most from your team
during the task?
● Would you need to adapt your natural
behaviour to get the most out of the task and
your team?

11. Reflection on Balloon Task
1. How can we get the best out of our teams?
2. We need to be adaptable depending on the
task and the team.
3. Be aware of people’s behaviour when
presented with change and how that can impact
on the group’s dynamics.
4. Create systems to accommodate for
everyone’s strengths.

12. Scenario (Jordan)
You have been working with your team for a few months,
you are new to the position, but not the department, there
are two members of your team (experienced and very
talented) new to the school, and 6 returners, two of whom
also applied (unsuccessfully) for your position. While you
had expected the staff dynamic to change, you feel you are
still out of synch with the departmental vibe. You have a
very supportive, but hands-off VP. How might you proceed?

13. Scenarios
Scenario 2
To follow the new school development plan you would like to design a
revolutionary scheme of work. You have the following people in your
department: 1. A new enthusiastic dynamic teacher. 2. 2 demotivated teachers.
3 A teacher who is also a Head of Year.
How would you go about initiating the new project?
Scenario 3
You are holding a department meeting. You have the following people in your
department 1. Someone who will not be able to attend the meeting. 2.
Someone who can only attend half of it. 3. A new person. 4. Someone who is
analytical and likes precise information. 5. Someone who can't wait to leave the
building.

14. Some suggestions
Lucie
1.To thine own self be true.
2.Be visible and ask
questions. Talk to your
team!
3.Empower people on
your team. (play to their
strengths and avoid micro
management)
Jordan
1.Adapt your
communication style
2Don't Adapt, who you
are.
3 Know when to be an 'I'
and when to be a 'We'
4) Be willing to discuss and
then learn from your
mistakes.