Team Development Arcs

Another term for a "Team Development Arc" in the context of NETs is "developmental pathway". PBEM asks NET teams to meet regularly, but many Team Leaders have requested guidance on the "why" of meeting. Without a defined purpose, team meetings can drift, prompting some members to stop attending meetings, and teams do not build their capacity as neighborhood-based disaster responders. The purpose of Team Developmental Arcs is to structure a team's movement from a baseline of organization to higher level disaster response skills and capacity. Arcs give TLs a roadmap rather than running meetings by "what should we talk about this month?"

Team Development Arc Leadership Approach

A NET Team Leader is responsible for developing their team. PBEM recommends NET Team Leaders approach the task with the following in mind:

• Use team meetings to develop the team (not necessarily individual NETs)
• Think of your operations plan
• Begin with the end in mind: TLs should visualize what a capable NET team for their neighborhood looks like. For example, by the end of the arc, the team...
  • Can set up a command post quickly and assign roles.
  • Knows local hazards and prospective resources.
  • Can deploy BEECN, DAMM, or other comms with little prompting.
  • Has regularly practiced light search and rescue and other basic skillsets.
  • Has team cohesion and a predictable meeting rhythm.
• Delegate: A TL is responsible for being the "conductor" at the front of the orchestra, but the conductor does not play an instrument. After a TL develops their team's Development Arcs, they should assign responsibility for most meeting topics to different members of the team
• Braid arcs together and pursue simultaneously

(TBA)

Team Development Arcs Table

The table below proposes five major Team Development Arcs and team activities that move the team down the path.

Developmental Arc I:Team Organization and Cohesion
Sequence	Activity	Indoors/Outdoors
1	Local Fire Station Meeting	Indoors

Developmental Arc II: Response Operations Planning
Neighborhood	Volunteers	Hours

Developmental Arc III: Basic Response Skills
Neighborhood	Volunteers	Hours

Developmental Arc IV: Communications
Neighborhood	Volunteers	Hours

Developmental Arc V: Exercises
Neighborhood	Volunteers	Hours