Aug 8, 2023
The Situation
Episcopal Relief & Development was undergoing a transition and updating its operating model to align with their new strategic plan. They were reviewing how their market-facing teams engage with their audiences and with each other, and identifying the capabilities needed for their work.
The Challenge
Global Learning Partners was invited to collaborate in co-creating a multi-day in-person event, to help the team address the following challenges:
- The COVID-19 pandemic meant that staff had not been together in person and new staff members were also adjusting – these individuals missed each other!
- This group was a mix of veteran staff as well as new staff members – they needed and wanted to get to know each other.
- Some people in this group may soon have new roles and responsibilities, and some of these teams are not yet fully formed – an urgent need for clarity was being felt and requested.
- Most people were keen to have a deeper understanding of how the market-facing teams engage with their audience and identifying the capabilities needed for their work.
To address the challenges named above, Episcopal Relief & Development Leadership decided to hold an in-person 1.5-day convening – the first for this group in 3 years. The team saw this as an opportunity to connect, explore the capacity mapping work done, align around collaboration norms, and provide a consultative voice into this work.
Global Learning Partners and two members of the Leadership Team co-designed and co-facilitated this event.
The Impact
As a result of this multi-day event, this group achieved the following:
- Celebrated and valued who they are, the skills they bring to the team, and the way these skills may be applied.
- Reflected together on the strategic journey they are on as an organization.
- Contributed insights for the evolving current state capability map.
- Developed common understanding of the audiences they serve, and the different capabilities needed for effective engagement with these audiences.
- Established shared language and postures that support collaboration with and between teams.
- Assumed “good will” with colleagues, even when and if different perspectives arise.