Dear Friends,
The last few years have left us so divided. We continue to separate ourselves along countless lines of demarcation. We look for signs of dissent before we look for signs of agreement, and as human nature would have it, we usually find exactly what we’re looking for. These last few months have, in many ways, deepened the divide. Bridging is the critical leadership skill we need to take us from where we are to where we need to be—for the safety of our people and the sustainability of our organizations.
In our most recent newsletters, we’ve seen Emily and her team leverage Bridging to create common ground and build the connectedness needed for a healthy workplace culture. In step one, Purpose, they agreed on the why of their work, the rules they’d follow when engaging and supporting each other, and the outcomes they wanted to experience as a result. Step two, Exploration, had the team identify areas of opportunity and determine how to shore them up. In Imagination, step three, they described their version of “great” and outlined what they needed—individually and as a team—to bring that greatness to life.
Emily’s team is now ready to begin the execution phase of their journey, where they’ll decide what actions to take, when to take them, and who will be responsible. It’s time for Commitment.
Bridging Step 4: Commitment
When a team starts a journey from where they are to where they want to be, each person has to play a role. Emily realized that. So, she asked every team member: “What are you willing to commit to in order to bring our team vision to life?” Each person had to answer. It wasn’t a time for discussion or debate. Only simple statements detailing what they would do to support the team’s vision. The responses ranged from “I’ll work with Tamra and IT to create an internal tracking system so we can reuse resources and stop re-creating the wheel with each request” to “I will be more supportive of ideas from those more junior to me” and more. Each commitment related to the team’s overall vision and the outcomes the team identified during the Purpose step.
Next?
After capturing what each person committed to, it was time for prioritization. Based on the outcomes they wanted and the behaviors they agreed to exhibit, what did the team believe should happen first? Second? Next? The team decided together and then identified who would help implement each prioritized item. Bridging helped the team understand that simply stating what should happen next wasn’t enough. They also had to create transparent accountability for getting those “next” things done.
Tomorrow?
Lists are good. Plans are better. But action is what makes change happen. So, before ending their Commitment session, Emily asked each person what they would start doing differently tomorrow to help them grow. Each person stated what they would do differently the next day and, based on the rules of engagement they established at the very beginning of their Bridging journey, they knew their peers would help by holding them accountable.
As with prior Bridging steps, transparency was critical to Commitment. Everything was posted or shared so all had visibility. The team also agreed to revisit their priorities as the needs of their organization evolved.
Emily’s team accomplished a lot during the first four stages of Bridging. Yet the most transformative was what they learned about one another. When agreeing to the why of their work, they learned how each of them viewed their work and their company. While establishing ground rules, they learned how each of them liked to receive information and what helped them be more productive. When unearthing challenges, they came to better understand how each of them perceived their work and each other, and their impact on the business and their team. When imagining a new, more positive future, they revealed their gifts and talents plus what they needed to work differently to bring about their desired outcomes. Commitment provided them the opportunity to take accountability for their team journey and the individual roles each of them would play to ensure their team’s success. This is the essence of Bridging—providing opportunities for teams to genuinely connect with one another while creating their future on their terms.
Emily and her team have one last Bridging step to complete: Connection. Our next newsletter will follow them as they ensure the good work they started will continue.
Until next time, friends, keep making a way.
The Waymakers Change Group
