FROM ENTRENCHED POSITIONS TO SHARED UNDERSTANDING
When a team suffers conflict and needs a new foundation to rebuild trust.
CHALLENGE
The HR management team of a global chemical company was having trouble implementing a new business strategy, even though a clear written vision and roadmap had been communicated to employees. The team had two leaders, one new and visionary, the other having been the leader since years, having led the team to lots of cost-cutting programs.
The team perceived their leaders to be moving in different directions and lots of energy was being lost in second-guessing and infighting.”
APPROACH
We interviewed both leaders and all team members in order to know more about their individual perceptions, before inviting them to participate in our three-day workshop.
All members of the team member volunteered to take part.
Three-day workshop:
- Day one: greytogreen CHOICES & RESULTS
- Day two: greytogreen PURE MOTIVATION
- Day three: creating an aligned leadership framework.
Based upon the newly acquired skills of introspection and communication and the mutual empathy that was developed during the first two days, the team engaged in a highly productive process.
They built a new leadership framework, consciously and calmly checking and challenging their various conflicting viewpoints. They questioned and clarified their individual motivations, removed obstacles, and created alignment where entrenched positions and lack of true dialog used to reign.
RESULTS
The team acquired a deep awareness of the existence of “different points of view” versus “being invested in one’s own position” and built a new foundation for communicating and engaging with each other.
The whole group now owns their revised, enriched vision and leadership framework and has committed to openness and authenticity wherever future misunderstandings and conflicts might arise.
TAKE AWAY
Living the greytogreen process together for two days serves to open up minds and hearts. Infighting diminished and future team challenges are solved more easily when all team members share a common process and vocabulary.
