Leverage Team Assumptions to start Change-Based Conversations

Consider leveraging your team assumptions. Test whether everyone actually is on the same proverbial page.

This mindset exercise is a great way to start conversations about Change with a big “C.” Rather than relying on yet another meeting about what individuals did wrong. Or, what “has to” change in order to do things “right.” Whatever “right” actually is.

My professional mantra always has been “Depending on where we sit around the table, we all hear stories differently. Shouldn’t our differences be our strengths and opportunities to better serve each other, first, so we better serve our clients, Together.”

My speaking programs, workshopsand coaching/facilitation programs focus on leveraging stories. To test assumptions. And to build strategic business and human capital value across people and professional disciplines. So you and your team move one millimeter beyond the way you learned to do things yesterday. Or, the way you are comfortable doing things today. About choosing to do things differently to get to where everyone really needs to go, tomorrow and moving forward. Contact me here to start our complementary 15-minute conversation.

The ROI of Change begins by leveraging Team Assumptions.

Because Change looks different to each person. Yet, our workplaces reinforce a mutual need to fit in and run with the pack within the existing corporate culture. Thus, you and I assume that the way we see things is the same way everyone else sees things. Often, misassumptions about each other’s assumptions are the root cause for communication and collaboration disconnects. And our assumptions extend across people, professional disciplines, job titles, pay grades, levels of generations, education, you name it. Thus you and I unconsciously make assumptions about:

1. Who receives our input, and
2. What they do with it next.

These assumptions become the reason stuff falls through the cracks. Or, information is not exchanged across the organization. And we assume everything is “fine” until our clients notify us how they fall through the cracks. Those inconvenient gaps occurring in the hand-off between pre- and post-sales, between DevOps and manufacturing, between business and operations.

Realistically, talking about Change is like walking on eggshells in most organizations. A limiting conversation, often not encouraged. Yet, talking about assumptions in a well-facilitated environment becomes constructive, expanding and innovative.

1. First, you use different words and concepts to talk about Change. Thus, everyone is more open to a concept which appears less threatening to them.
2. Next, discovering mutual assumptions about each other’s assumptions (even our own) is, in itself, Change. Not only do you now have a team focused on a fresh subject. But also, they being to wonder about other assumptions which create barriers to collaboration and communication.

Before diving head first into your next team meeting to Change what isn’t working, consider the power and novelty of leveraging team assumptions. So everyone gets to where they need to go, together. One millimeter at a time.

Planning your next team, corporate or association meeting? Engage me to present one of my One Millimeter Mindset™ speaking programs, workshops or mastermind groups. Delivered virtually or in-person. Contact me here.

My One Millimeter Mindset™  virtual and in-person keynotes, workshops, coaching and mastermind programs translate across strategic communication and collaboration disconnects between people and professional disciplines. Build trust. Retain employees and clients. Optimize strategic business and human capital value in your organizations. Get everyone to where they need to go. Together. One millimeter at a time.  My playbook of communication tools and methods, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com. Image source: Adobe Stock.