How we make a difference OK, so what can LifeTree do for me? What LifeTree can do for the TeamWhat LifeTree can do for the Team
Issue, Challenge, or Opportunity
There were some issues of communication in the Top Team of this organisation. Some of the new senior staff members had been on a training course, and had realised that they had common issues with communication and the decision-making process at senior level. They raised this with the Chief Executive. They were able to point to specific examples where involving them earlier in the strategic decision making process would have benefited the organisation significantly.
The Chief Executive engaged LifeTree to explore how best to address this issue. This organisation had ‘done’ a top team away-day some time ago, and the experience was not positive. It was clear that the Top Team Away day needed to be significantly different from previous efforts.
There was also some concern from more senior and experienced members of the top team, about loosing control of the decision-making process. For the Chief Executive, it was important that these fears were addressed as these key senior staff were not simply ‘the old guard’ but added real value to the organisation. The challenge was engaging the experienced senior managers without disempowering the new senior managers. What was needed was a shift in culture: of management style, ethos and values; but at the same time not loosing the unique contributions of key staff members.
What we did
LifeTree designed a bespoke agenda after speaking to each member of the Top Team. Everyone had input to the day and opportunity to share their concerns and aspirations confidentially. From these interviews, LifeTree drew a graphic of the ‘Big Picture’ for the organisation within its context.
LifeTree facilitated the day, with a very practical focus – on the work and purpose of the organisation. The key agenda item was LifeTree feeding back the ‘Big Picture’, with honesty. The purpose of that was to encourage dialogue, helping the group open up ‘undiscussalbe’ issues, and develop a plan to improve working relationships, quality of decisions and quality of results.
Outcome of engaging LifeTree
SOME OF THE OUTCOMES WERE:
- Clarification of roles and working relationships.
- Development of more appropriate communication mechanisms and meeting structures.
- Increased openness within the group.
- Confidence for the more ‘junior’ managers to speak out their perspective.
- Progress towards an improved decision-making model – separating out strategic from operational,
- Beginning of ‘opening up’ the strategic decision-making process to input from the wider team.
Since completing the away day LifeTree have supported the organisation in further management development to support the ongoing culture shift towards a more open empowering senior team to deliver improved quality of product to their customers and clients.