Team building with core qualities of Daniel Ofman (incl. Dutch version)

The Core Quadrants by Daniel Ofman are a powerful tool for team development and building. They provide insight into personal and team dynamics by identifying core qualities, pitfalls, challenges, and allergies. Here’s how you can use Ofman’s Core Qualities for team building:

1. Introduce the concept of core qualities

Explanation: Explain the model of core qualities, pitfalls, challenges, and allergies to the team. Use relatable examples, such as:

• Core Quality: Drive
• Pitfall: Acting too hastily
• Challenge: Patience
• Allergy: Passivity

Use visual aids like a diagram or practical examples to make it easy to understand.

2. Identify individual core qualities

Exercise: Ask team members to identify their own core qualities. Use questions like:
• What are you really good at?
• What qualities do others often appreciate about you?
• Encourage team members to reflect on how these core qualities contribute to their work and collaboration.

3. Explore pitfalls, challenges, and allergies

Help each team member explore the possible pitfalls of their core quality by asking:
• What happens when you rely too much on this quality?
• Discover challenges and allergies:
• What can you develop to balance your core quality?
• What traits in others irritate you, and why?

4. Compare and discuss core quadrants within the team

Organize a session where team members share their core quadrants.

Focus on complementarity:
• Which qualities complement each other?
• Where do irritations (allergies) arise, and how can they be resolved?

Reflect: How do different core qualities contribute to team goals?

5. Work on joint team development

Use the core quadrants to address team challenges:
• Are there shared pitfalls within the team (e.g., too much perfectionism)?
• What challenges can help the team grow (e.g., more flexibility)?
• Encourage the team to appreciate each other’s strengths and tackle challenges together.

6. Integrate core quadrants into daily collaboration

• Feedback culture: Encourage team members to give constructive feedback based on the core quadrants.
• Problem-solving: Use core qualities to find solutions and avoid pitfalls.
• Celebrate successes: Highlight how team members’ core qualities have contributed to achievements.

7. Reflection and follow-up

Plan regular evaluations to discuss how the team is utilizing and developing its core qualities.
Show how working with the core quadrants improves team collaboration and performance.
Example in a team:

• Core Quality of Team Member A: Creativity
• Pitfall: Chaotic working style
• Challenge: Adding structure
• Allergy: Rigid rules

• Core Quality of Team Member B: Structured
• Pitfall: Rigidity
• Challenge: Flexibility
• Allergy: Disorganization

These differences might initially cause tensions, but by valuing each other’s qualities, they can learn how their strengths complement and enhance one another.

Would you like a specific exercise or template for a core qualities workshop? Contact me here

Er is een kernkwadranten spel verkrijgbaar in het nederlands. Ik gebruik dit al een aantal jaren met veel succes. Het spel bevat veel kaartjes voor elk kwadrant. Geeft een leuke variatie op bovenstaande teamoefening. Bijv. de kaartjes etaleren en iedereen een kernkwaliteit voor een collega laten uitkiezen en deze met korte toelichting overhandigen. Daarna gezamelijk de kwadranten doorwerken. Geeft hoge kwaliteit feedback naast complimenten.

Wil je ook een specifieke oefening of template voor een kernkwaliteiten-workshop? Contacteer me hier.