Case studies
Team Alignment Cast Study
Background
A telecom company was having trouble getting the various functions and branch offices to collaborate towards a common goal. It seemed like the various personalities and perspectives that come with running a large business with a diverse portfolio and personnel were pulling the company in conflicting directions. The request was made to increase empathy and align the team towards a common goal.
Solution
The In & Out of the Box Process was used to kick-start a two-day team alignment process. The Box was first introduced as a framework for personal creativity. Emphasis was placed on the need for creativity when we are under pressure and not getting desired results. Next each of the different functions created their “functional box.” What are the filters their part of the business uses to see the business, what energizes
and de-energizes them, and what pressure are they under. After sharing our functional
box, we created the organization box. What is the greater goal that we are all working
towards (the back of the box) and what do we all want more or less of. These were put
on large sheets of cardboard representing the larger box the team all agreed to operate
within, and from this they co-created to a set of behavioral agreements that the whole
team agreed to in order to support their common goal.
Result
On the second day, the team practiced their behavioral agreements and came to a number of innovative win/win decisions. Participants were amazed at how much easier it was to communicate from within the larger box of the team as they could let go of their own preconceived ideas, and work together towards a common goal.