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Effective team leadership is essential for high-performing teams to thrive. Leaders must provide clear direction, build trust, and foster open communication — while adapting their style to the team’s maturity stage to meet evolving needs and unlock peak performance.
The Science Behind the Miki Island Solution
Developed with our research partner and backed by 30+ years of behavioral science, Miki Island’s methodology guides teams through the four stages of maturity to drive real business impact.
🤝 Designed Together with a Research Institute
Susan Wheelan
Founder, GDQ Associates
Christian Jacobsson
Head of Research, GDQ Associates
Maria Akerlund
CEO, GDQ Associates AB
Oussama Labib
CEO & Founder,
Aeqlia & Miki Island
Miki Island is the result of a collaboration between Aeqlia, a digital learning company, and GDQ Associates AB, a leading research institute in Sweden, founded by Dr. Susan Wheelan.
Dr. Susan Wheelan devoted nearly 30 years to studying how teams develop and perform, leading to the creation of the Integrated Model of Group Development (IMGD) as well as the Group Development Questionnaire (GDQ). The IMGD model outlines the natural stages teams go through as they grow, helping organizations understand team dynamics and improve effectiveness.
Since Dr Susan Wheelan’s retirement in 2014, the IMGD model and its ongoing development have been managed by Maria Åkerlund and Christian Jacobsson, who continue to advance its research and practical applications.
Building on this research, Miki Island was created by Oussama Labib in collaboration with Maria and Christian to offer leaders, organizations, and teams a unique blend of fun, engagement, and proven science — delivering immersive experiences that translate into better on-the-job performance and tangible business results.
Available both in-person and virtually, the Miki Island solution bridges the gap between theory and real-world team dynamics.
Designed around specific learning outcomes, it addresses the common challenges teams face daily by developing critical skills such as collaboration, communication, and agility. The solution ensures that what teams learn during the experience is directly applicable, fostering sustainable behavior changes that boost team effectiveness and drive business impact.
🧬 Exploring the IMGD Model with Dr. Susan Wheelan
Hear directly from Dr. Susan Wheelan as she explains the stages of team development and how the IMGD Model helps organizations build stronger, more effective teams:
- Group Psychology and Group Development
- The 4 Stages of Team Development
- Effective Team Membership
- Effective Team Leadership
- 10 Characteristics of High-Performing Teams
🏆The Essential Ingredients for Team Performance!
Since the first validation of GDQ took place in 1996, more than 80 studies based on empirical research using GDQ have been published in academic journals or reports.
The Business Impact of High Performing Teams
Decades of research from GDQ Associates show that high-performing teams don’t just work better — they drive measurable business results across industries, from happier customers to stronger financial outcomes.
The 10 Characteristics of High Performing Teams
Research has identified 10 core elements that define high-performing teams — from trust and role clarity to constructive conflict and strong leadership. These elements consistently predict better collaboration, faster problem-solving, and stronger results.
The 4 Stages of Team Development
The Integrated Model of Group Development (IMGD) by Susan Wheelan provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the evolution of groups and maturity of teams. The IMGD offers insights into how groups can navigate challenges, build cohesion, and ultimately enhance their performance.
The Role of Effective Team Members
Effective team membership is essential for high-performing teams. Team members actively contribute their skills, support each other, communicate openly, and take shared ownership of the team’s success.
🧠 Articles & White Papers from GDQ Associates
🏆Pick the Solution that Fits your Needs
Whether you're looking at boosting your own team performance, use it for your clients or scale it within your organization, we got you covered!
250,000+ Participants
35+ Countries
20+ Languages
96% Satisfaction Rate
For Team Leaders & Managers
Unlock your team’s full potential and lead them to higher performance & stronger collaboration.
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Develop high-performing teams and leaders — with measurable impact and scalable solutions.
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Expand your offerings, win more clients, and deliver impactful team experiences that scale your business.
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Signature Programs & Assessments
Whether it’s a one-off team offsite, team development journey or leadership development program, Miki Island is focused on unleashing the power of High Performing teams within your organization.
"Miki Island experiential learning program is a great way to practice teamwork for performance improvement. The combination of doing and reflecting as well as being both concrete and theoretical is great or learnings about team development!"
Christian Jacobsson Head Of Research, GDQ Associates (Miki Island Research Partner)