As part of our summer series exploring the psychology behind team building, this week I’m highlighting the ‘GRPI model’. 

GRPI was developed by American organisational consultant Richard Beckhard in the 1970s and is a useful tool, amongst many others, for understanding what helps teams succeed and what holds them back.

GRPI stands for Goals, Roles, Processes and Interpersonal Relationships. These four layers are the building blocks that support how well a team works together. If a team is underperforming or stuck, there’s a good chance that the issue lies in one of these areas.

Start with goals. If the team doesn’t know where it’s heading or what success looks like, it’s hard to move forward. Next, look at roles. Are people clear about who is responsible for what? If not, confusion and duplication can creep in. Then there are the processes. This involves the ways of working, decision making and communication. Even the most talented teams can falter if their systems are inefficient. Finally, interpersonal relationships. Trust, respect and openness are vital.

If you feel your team needs better clarity and alignment we might suggest focusing experiences which focus on structured problem-solving. If the team needs to strengthen relationships, then we’ll lean into collaborative challenges or experiences which prioritise communication.

At Team Challenge Company, we start planning any team building experience around the outcomes you need for your teams. To understand how your team could benefit, contact us for more information.