Transforming a blame + complain culture

As a conflict + communication expert, I work with many organisations to assist in strengthening their team culture. I get how stressful an unhappy + unhealthy workplace is and the impact on productivity + creativity. My goal in working with teams is to assist in clearing the conflict blocks and facilitating the team creation of a sustainably healthy workplace where staff want to be (+ stay!)

We explore both the strengths activating the team and the issues that hinder development. My role is to create a psychologically safe space that enables staff to be open and honest (and respectful + constructive) about their concerns. It is essential for staff to be heard and understood to enable the team to move forward. The focus is then on mutually responsibility for brainstorming and enacting workable options for the issues raised.

This process is ideally undertaken by proactive leaders that are cognisant of the need to keep a mindful team culture on the agenda, fine-tuning the team to enable a collective mindset, skillset and action plan.

Usually though, I am called in when teams are caught in a 'blame and complain’ dynamic. They have veered into conflict and disconnection - finding it hard to let go of past issues and feeding a negative energy drain on the team. Cliques and an ‘us vs them’ dynamic develops, making it difficult for leaders to gain cultural traction.

So, how do you change cultural direction from a blame + complain dynamic to build a positive + mindful team culture?

1.????Be proactive with arising conflict issues. They don’t usually go away, they will escalate + agitate for attention until they have been heard + understood.

2.????Ensure the team feels psychologically safe to give + receive feedback. To ensure resilient growth, the team has to feel safe enough to be (constructively) honest.

3.????Practice a shared model for difficult conversations. It then becomes ‘the way’ for the team to proactively have those curious + constructive conversations.

4.????Live your above + below the line behaviours as a team. Ensure they are co-created by the team and align with organisational values. Team members having permission to call in + call out below the line behaviours.

5.????Drum up the positive energy! A positive team will share positive to negative comments at a ratio of 6:1 (the ratio for the worst performing teams is 1:3). Ensure the team feels valued for their individual + collective strengths and above the line behaviours are celebrated. ?

How can I assist your team?

Mindful Team Culture - Proactive 1-day workshop is for those teams that want to strengthen an already healthy-ish team culture.

Mindful Team Culture - Transformative 2-day workshop is for those teams that need to transform a conflict-divided, blame + complain type culture.

Mindful Team Culture - Package is for those teams that seek to realise a comprehensive culture-set (skill-set, mindset and tool-set). The package includes the following trainings: Difficult Conversations, Emotional Intelligence + Mindful Team Culture (Proactive or Transformative).

If your team needs to realign + get back on track - contact me!

Until then, enjoy your conflict!

Scott ??

P.S. Check out the team connection below!