About the Author
Deidre Harris brings over 35 years of experience in early childhood education, serving as a teacher, coach, and program leader. Her work explores how leadership, relationships, and systems shape the effectiveness of teams. As a faculty member and international trainer and consultant with the Pyramid Model Consortium, she supports programs in strengthening social-emotional practices while building the adult capacity needed to sustain them. Deidre is the creator of the Highly Effective Teams Card Deck. She equips leaders with practical tools to move beyond surface-level strategies creating meaningful alignment across how individuals lead, how teams function, and how organizations operate. Through Team Agreements (www.teamagreements.com), she helps leaders and teams build clarity, trust, and shared responsibility-because sustainable change happens when people, practices, and systems work together.
Table of Contents
About the Online Materials About the Author Foreword by Erin Barton, Ph.D. Note to the Reader: A Guide for Using This Book with Intention Acknowledgments Introduction to Highly Effective Teams: Challenges and Benefits Section I Personal Leadership: The Foundation of Team Effectiveness Introduction to Personal Leadership Chapter 1 Personal Leadership Section II Clarity Competencies: How We Establish Direction, Roles, and Purpose Across the Team Introduction to Clarity Competencies Chapter 2 Clear Direction Chapter 3 Shared Goals and Collaborative Decision-Making Chapter 4 Defined Roles and Responsibilities Section III Relational Competencies: How We Connect, Communicate, and Understand One Another Introduction to Relational Competencies Chapter 5 Cultural Humility Chapter 6 Emotional and Relational Intelligence Chapter 7 Open and Honest Communication Section IV Accountability and Adaptability Competencies: How We Grow Together Introduction to Accountability and Adaptability Competencies Chapter 8 Collaboration and Mutual Accountability Chapter 9 Risk-Taking and Change Management Section V When Conflict Occurs: How to Reframe, Manage, and Restore Introduction: When Conflict Occurs Chapter 10 Reframing Conflict Chapter 11 Workplace Drama Chapter 12 Workplace Bullying Chapter 13 Restorative Practices Section VI Building Highly Effective Teams Chapter 14 From Insight to Implementation Appendixes Appendix A Effective Teams Rating Scale: Personal Leadership Appendix B Effective Teams Rating Scale: Clear Direction Appendix C Effective Teams Rating Scale: Shared Goals and Collaborative Decision Making Appendix D Effective Teams Rating Scale: Roles and Responsibilities Appendix E Effective Teams Rating Scale: Cultural Humility Appendix F Effective Teams Rating Scale: Emotional Intelligence Appendix G Effective Teams Rating Scale: Open and Honest Communication Appendix H Effective Teams Rating Scale: Collaboration and Mutual Accountability Appendix I Effective Teams Rating Scale: Risk Taking and Change Management