The tools of team learning are dialogue, discussion and microworlds. In all three, the team invests time together to develop the set of relationships that make up the team. Insights are formed and shared, assumptions are identified and challenged, and complementary strengths are identified. Dialogue provides an opportunity for the free and creative exploration of complex and subtle issues. It is a disciplined process that requires the ability to listen deeply and assumes a significant degree of trust and candor.
Discussion provides the opportunity for different views to be presented and defended.
Discussion and dialogue are complementary tools, but often teams rely on discussion as the primary means of communication and learning. They provide an opportunity to develop insight together, step back and reflect on the expected versus actual results, and learn from the experience. Teams can learn much faster as well. As insights are shared, they can build upon each other in a way that fosters true innovation. The team needs to effectively apply the tools of dialogue, discussion and microworlds.