The Group Development Questionnaire (GDQ)

Every leader wants their teams to be innovative, engaged, inclusive, and high performing. It’s something your team members want as well.

Teams don’t come together and become effective just because the members are assigned to the same project. Teams develop along a predictable path as they work together. The team leader can facilitate this development if they have the knowledge of where the team is now and what the trajectory of the team could be.

Effective Teams

  • Produce something of high quality and relevance for stakeholders

  • Are a healthy and stimulating work environment for all team members
  • Are inclusive, accepting, and provide appropriate professional opportunities for all of the members

  • Are able to adapt and be resilient in changing, challenging circumstances

How do I find out what stage the team is in?

Ask them by having the Group Development Questionnaire administered to the team members.

The GDQ is a tested and reliable team assessment based on decades of research into group dynamics. It has been used by all types of teams worldwide for over 30 years.

The GDQ measures how the team is functioning right now. Each individual on the team replies anonymously and is not measured individually and there is no right or wrong GDQ profile.

The resulting report provides objective recommendations on which issues the group can focus on in order to develop further and become more efficient and effective.

Stages of Group Development

There are four stages that teams grow through on their way to becoming a high performing group. The progress will move forward or backward depending on changes to the group environment such as a new team member, a new leader, or change in work priorities.

1

Dependency & Inclusion

2

Counter Dependency & Fight

3

Trust & Structure

4

Work & Productivity

As the team leader, having the assessment–particularly information from the debrief, laid a seamless foundation to continue the conversation with the larger team, validate and normalize our experiences (particularly those interpersonal bumps in the road), and visualize our goals in an almost tactile way.

VP , Behavioral Health Organization

What does the GDQ Process look like?

At the conclusion of this process you will have in hand a snap shot of the team’s state of development, how effectively the team is working now, how the team members perceive the team’s effectiveness and if there are differences in that perception. You will have a guide for which behavioral areas the team should focus on to develop further.

Most importantly, the assessment is a powerful tool for learning. Participating in the GDQ process is a way for a team to revisit its purpose and strengthen its commitment, which can pave the way for meaningful performance improvements.

The Propel Consulting Group is certified to administer the GDQ. The GDQ Process takes place over 4 sessions.

  • We speak with the team leader to review the current state of the team.

  • We administer the GDQ to all team members who will each answer anonymously.

  • We conduct the first session to review the model and elements of the report generated by the Team’s GDQ.

  • We conduct a second session to review the actual results of the GDQ for your team.

  • We deliver the Action Plan and outline the next steps for the team.

If you have questions about how the GDQ can help your teams become more effective, we’d love to discuss them with you.

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