Starbuck Academy · Learn and Grow
STEP™ Lite: Team Effectiveness Programme
Help your team work better together
STEP™ Lite is a six-module, digital development programme designed to strengthen how teams communicate, collaborate and deliver results. It is built around the proven Starbuck & Associates Team Effectiveness Pyramid and focuses on everyday behaviours that drive high performance.
Each module is practical, grounded in real work and takes approximately one hour to complete.
A practical journey to help teams work better together
STEP™ Lite is a six-module, digital development programme designed to strengthen how teams communicate, collaborate and deliver results. It is built around the proven Starbuck & Associates Team Effectiveness Pyramid and focuses on everyday behaviours that drive high performance.
Each module is practical, grounded in real work and takes approximately one hour to complete.
Watch the video below for an overview of what STEP™ Lite is about.
The STEP programme isn’t just a course; it’s a catalyst for action, growth, and sustained development, empowering delegates to reach new heights with clarity and enthusiasm.
How STEP™ Lite Works
Each module follows the same structure:
1. Introduction video – A short overview of the module and its focus.
2. Workbook – This includes all reflective thinking, team tools and action planning. The workbook must be downloaded before continuing.
3. Learning presentation:
Short sections with pause points to complete workbook activities.
Starbuck Academy automatically tracks progress and unlocks the next step
Learners can complete each module individually or as a team.
If they take a break, Starbuck Academy remembers their place.
At the end of the programme, the team has a full set of team charters, practical tools and 30-day behaviour plans that support long-term performance.
What STEP™ Lite Delivers
Learning Outcomes
By completing the programme, teams will:
Strengthen psychological safety and openness
Improve the quality and pace of decision-making
Build stronger accountability and follow-through
Focus on results that matter most
Sustain improvement and learning over time
The outcome is a more confident, connected and effective team.
The Six Modules
Each module builds on the one before, forming a continuous cycle of team effectiveness
Module 1: Trust and Relationships
Building psychological safety, openness and mutual respect.
• Diagnose current trust levels
• Explore the Trust Equation and personal behaviours
• Create a Team Trust Charter
• Begin a 30-day trust-building action plan
Outcome: A foundation of trust that supports honest communication.
Module 2: Healthy Conflict
Turning difference into constructive challenge and better decisions.
• Recognise current conflict habits
• Identify individual conflict styles
• Create a Team Conflict Charter
• Apply actions for productive discussion
Outcome: Confident debate that improves collaboration and innovation.
Module 3: Commitment
Aligning around clear decisions and shared direction.
• Reflect on recent decision clarity
• Explore the three levels of commitment
• Identify barriers to alignment
• Build a Team Commitment Charter
Outcome: Faster, clearer decisions that everyone supports.
Module 4: Accountability
Delivering reliably and supporting one another to follow through.
• Explore personal and peer accountability behaviours
• Use the Accountability Ladder for ownership mindsets
• Identify and remove barriers to delivery
• Complete an accountability 30-day plan
Outcome: Consistent follow-through and strengthened trust.
Module 5: Results
Measuring what matters and celebrating progress.
• Define meaningful success
• Use Line of Sight to connect daily work to goals
• Develop a Team Scorecard
• Build recognition and celebration habits
Outcome: Motivation, clarity and visible momentum.
Module 6: Future Focus
Keeping improvement active and sustainable.
• Review progress from the programme
• Use the Growth Loop for continued learning
• Apply Keep/Stop/Start to improve ways of working
• Create a Future Focus action plan
Outcome: A team that adapts confidently and continues to grow together.
Who STEP™ Lite Is For
Teams of any size or sector who want:
A shared language for how they work together
Practical tools that can be applied immediately
Visible and sustainable improvement in performance
Ideal for new teams, changing teams or teams seeking a performance refresh.
Time Commitment
Six hours in total, completed flexibly over six weeks or longer whatever suits operational needs.
Your certificate
Recognition for the work you put in
Complete all six modules and you can download a Starbuck Academy certificate of completion, bearing the name of our founder, Paul Starbuck, ICF Master Certified Coach.
It records 6 estimated learning hours for your own development record. It is a professional development certificate, not a regulated qualification.
Enrol today
A one-off payment for STEP™ Lite.
Who it is for
Teams that want a shorter, practical introduction to the Starbuck Team Effectiveness Pyramid, and team leaders who want to run six structured sessions with their team. It works for teams of any size, whether they work together in one place or remotely.
Before you start
This programme is general learning and development content and is not professional advice. Always follow your own organisation’s policies, and take specialist advice on legal, financial or HR matters.
How your learning time adds up
Your 6 estimated learning hours are made up across six modules of about an hour each:
- Watching the short introduction video for each module: about 30 minutes (5 minutes each)
- Working through the learning presentation and its pause points: about 3 hours (30 minutes each)
- Completing the workbook reflections, team tools and action planning: about 2 hours (20 minutes each)
- Completing the knowledge check at the end of each module: about 30 minutes (5 minutes each)
Total: 6 estimated learning hours.
Knowledge checks: every lesson or module ends with a short multiple choice knowledge check. The pass mark is 80% and you can retake a knowledge check as many times as you need.
Who designed it
This programme was designed by ICF credentialed coaches at Starbuck & Associates, led by Paul Starbuck, our Founder and CEO and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). Every lesson draws on our coaching and leadership development work with organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world, and each programme is reviewed regularly to keep it current.
