Experiential practitioners have the opportunity to help groups move to a higher level of functioning, getting beyond unresolved emotional issues and becoming more truthful, immediate, involved, and collaborative. This critical process takes place along a continuum from "staying safe and shallow" at one end to "going deep and real" at the other. While outdoor experiential processes are a powerful means to help work teams through this shift, poetry can be an effective, inexpensive way to accomplish similar objectives. Key success factors of team development include team members interacting in a new way, using their hearts as well as their heads; staying focused on each other and relationships, as well as on tasks; envisioning new possibilities; communicating about real issues; and respecting each other. Several examples of useful poetry readings are offered. In addition to reading and listening to poetry, team members may create and share their own poems. Composing even very short poems can move participants into a new frame of mind, into speaking of things and feelings that they care about and have energy around. Working in small groups facilitates interaction among team members, while reading their favorites to each other prepares the way for team members to discuss success factors that will help them to their next level of development. Some pitfalls of "going deep and being real" are discussed, and 13 core competencies of facilitators are listed. (SV)