When you have just met and need to get aquainted and build a base for your collaboration, the following tools may be helpful:

• Personal Object Exercise - a simple exercise to get to know each other when the group members are still new to each other. 

• The Competence Triangle - a tool to map what each member brings to the team - and what competence the team covers overall. 

• Team Contract - this tools will help you definde the rules and work values of your team. It will help you regulate teamwork. 

When things are getting hot and you need a timeout to reflect on your team collaboration, the following tools may be helpful:

• Collaborameter - a questionnaire that will help you measure regularly how well the team members think the team is collaborating. 

• Group Activity Indicator Tool (GAIT) - this tool will help you monitor to what degree team members have equal workloads and contribute equally. 

• Belbin - this test will tell you what kind of roles team members prefer to fill out in team work. And therefore also what roles you may be missing - or have too much of - in your team. 

• 6 Thinking Hats - this approach to group discussions will help you get a broader perspective on things in your critical discussions.