By Christian Crettaz
For several years now, some organizations have been evolving towards alternative governance systems, enabling a fairer and more meaningful management approach. Today, this movement has gained momentum. Even without referring to ‘liberated companies,’ it can be said that the trend is towards a socio-economic and agile model.
For teams, departments, and organizations that decide to explore or integrate these new paradigms, it is essential to adopt an approach that differs from the classic hierarchical system.
Initially, individuals will be led to establish greater trust, recognize and tame their ego, and integrate the concept of equity. These are the prerequisites for a significant, yet necessary, re-evaluation. To change is not to be someone else; it is to be oneself.
These adaptations will enable progress within an environment where fear no longer has a place and where enjoyment takes its own.
Our Team Building approach has also evolved; we have taken care to adapt our offerings to these new requirements. For teams that wish to take a step back before moving forward, we have developed a specific pedagogical method that recognizes the ‘I’, develops the ‘WE’, and highlights the concept of ‘Living Together’.
The teaching methods involve specific activities that place participants in a comfort zone conducive to the development of Collective Intelligence, the cornerstone of these new collaborative systems. Beyond the classic social skills of team life, such as communication, collaboration, mutual aid, and other essentials, human relationships will be highlighted.
A team building activity – off-site and unconventional – will be perfect for individual and collective (re)discovery. Here, there is no hierarchy; it is the doer who knows.
Faced with the technical task we ask them to accomplish, participants generally all have the same level of ‘incompetence,’ which reassures a large portion of the team members. It will therefore be necessary to discover who the right people are, place them in the right positions, and trust them. These are not always the ones we expect. Here, every voice counts; everyone has the same opportunity to express themselves.
Achieving the objective will be determined by individuals’ ability to be themselves, not to play a role other than their own. Beyond the goal to be achieved, what will be motivating is the new direction to take, the path to invent to get there, and the collective energy that will be developed.
To evolve in this particular environment, the presence of an external facilitator is essential. This person will be tasked with observing the team and helping it build itself within this new paradigm. They will ensure the safety framework in which the activity takes place is respected, moderate certain actions, facilitate others, and preserve the notion of enjoyment.