Ten people came to a session with different expectations. By the end, they had eight possible solutions they could all use.

What changed?

In this episode of Be Walking with Nicky, I reflect on a session I facilitated using an exercise called the anti-guide. Instead of asking people how to achieve confidence at work, I invited them to consider how they might undermine it.

The discussion took an unexpected turn. People began recognising their own experiences in one another's stories. The problem-solving became shared, and the group left feeling more empowered than they had at the beginning.

The experience left me thinking about organisational culture, the way we talk about problems at work, and what becomes possible when people have the opportunity to think together.

I also explore something smaller, but no less interesting: how often we apologise when a simple thank you might better acknowledge the situation.

“Sorry this took so long” and “Thank you for your patience” recognise the same delay, but they place the emphasis in different places.

Gratitude is not a substitute for accountability, and not every workplace problem can be solved through a change in perspective. But what might happen if we made more room for shared thinking and recognised what people contribute?

I haven't arrived at a neat conclusion. The experience left me with questions, and I'm still sitting with them.

A question for you

When have you seen a group achieve something together that would have been difficult to achieve alone?

I'd love to hear your experience in the comments.

If you see things differently, welcome.

Be Walking with Nicky is a podcast about belonging, walking and reflection, and figuring life out. Real moments, bigger questions, useful ideas, and a little humour along the way.

Subscribe for more conversations about people, relationships, work and the human experience.

You are stronger today only because you are different.

Walk good.

#BeWalkingWithNicky #OrganisationalCulture #Teamwork