Holding the Space for Leaders : Creating Value for Leaders and Building Stronger Teams
The Workshop Philosophy: Creating Value for Leaders and Building Stronger Teams
In every workshop I facilitate, I create a space for co-design, clarity, dissent, and action. These principles—Co-Design, Assumptions, Biases, and Dissent—aren’t just theoretical; they are the foundation for crafting better strategies and building resilient, high-performing teams. Here’s how this approach creates value for leaders and their organisations.
1. Co-Design: A Collaborative Foundation
Every great strategy begins with collaboration. Co-design ensures that every voice in the room is heard and valued. For leaders, this means moving away from top-down directives and toward inclusive participation that empowers teams to own the strategy.
How it creates value for leaders: Co-design brings diverse perspectives to the table, helping leaders uncover opportunities and solutions that they may not have considered alone.
Impact on strategy: Strategies born from co-design are not only innovative but also actionable. They reflect the real-world insights of those who will implement them, making them practical and grounded.
Impact on teams: When people co-create, they feel a sense of shared ownership and accountability. This strengthens team alignment and motivation, ensuring that everyone is invested in the success of the strategy.
Co-design is a foundational design rule in The Helix Blueprint.
2. Challenging Assumptions: Surfacing Hidden Truths
Organisations often operate on autopilot, guided by unspoken assumptions. My workshops create a space to unearth and question these assumptions, ensuring decisions are based on reality, not outdated beliefs.
How it creates value for leaders: Leaders gain clarity by identifying and challenging the assumptions that may be holding their teams or strategies back.
Impact on strategy: By breaking free of assumptions, leaders create strategies that are agile and responsive to today’s challenges and opportunities.
Impact on teams: Teams develop critical thinking skills, learning to evaluate ideas and decisions with a fresh perspective. This fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
More on Assumptions here: Assumptions: The Foundation of Strategy
3. Addressing Biases: Fostering Objective Decision-Making
Biases—whether personal, cultural, or organisational—can cloud judgement and hinder progress. My workshops shine a light on these biases, helping leaders and teams make decisions that are fair, inclusive, and data-driven.
How it creates value for leaders: Leaders are better equipped to make balanced decisions that are guided by evidence, not preconceived notions.
Impact on strategy: Bias-aware strategies are more inclusive and equitable, reflecting the needs of a wider range of stakeholders.
Impact on teams: A team that understands and mitigates bias is one that values diversity and collaboration. This fosters trust, inclusivity, and psychological safety—a key ingredient for high-performing teams.
More on Biases: Ai Powered Decision Making
4. Encouraging Dissent: Unlocking Creativity and Critical Thinking
Many organisations fear dissent, but in my workshops, dissent is welcome. Constructive conflict helps uncover new ideas, challenge assumptions, and strengthen strategies.
How it creates value for leaders: By embracing dissent, leaders unlock creativity and avoid the trap of groupthink. This allows for more dynamic and well-rounded decision-making.
Impact on strategy: Strategies tested through constructive dissent are more robust, resilient, and prepared to handle future challenges.
Impact on teams: Teams grow stronger when dissent is seen as an opportunity, not a threat. When handled respectfully, dissent fosters innovation and builds a culture of open dialogue.
More on Dissent here: The Power of Dissent
The Holistic Impact: Better Strategies, Stronger Teams
This philosophy transforms leadership by enabling leaders to:
Navigate complexity and uncertainty: By fostering collaboration, questioning assumptions, addressing biases, and encouraging dissent, leaders can make better decisions.
Build resilient teams: Teams emerge more cohesive, innovative, and adaptable when they are empowered to challenge ideas and co-create solutions.
Deliver sustainable results: Strategies developed with this approach are not only effective but also aligned with organisational values and prepared for the future.
Holding the Space for Leaders
Every workshop is more than just a meeting—it’s a transformative experience where leaders and teams come together to create clarity, alignment, and action. My job is to hold that space for you, enabling the conversations that lead to stronger strategies and stronger teams.
Ready to explore how this workshop philosophy can create value for your organisation? Let’s talk.