Partnership with Everybody Votes
Facilitating Everybody Votes' post-election debrief, generating crucial insights to inform their 2022-24 strategic planning.
The Needs Assessment
Our partnership with EVC began with a deep dive into the organization's dynamics. Through in-depth conversations with team directors and select members, we peeled back the layers of EVC's operations. What emerged was not just a need for a post-election review, but a crucial opportunity for growth in giving and receiving feedback. Importantly, we discovered that one key team was experiencing particular challenges in their group dynamics, which needed to be addressed to ensure the success of the overall review process.
Feedback Training
With these insights in mind, we knew that jumping straight into an after-action review would be premature. Instead, we designed Day 1 of the staff retreat as a transformative feedback training session. This wasn't just about teaching techniques; it was about shifting mindsets. We created a safe space for staff to explore their relationship with feedback, challenging them to see it not as criticism, but as a pathway to growth.
The After Action Review
With the groundwork laid, Day 2 saw us guiding the teams through a comprehensive after-action review. We posed four deceptively simple questions: What happened? What was supposed to happen? Why was there a difference? What can we learn from this? The magic wasn't just in the questions, but in how we strategically structured the conversations. We employed a multi-faceted approach: mixing teams for cross-sectional insights, forming groups based on shared challenges and themes, and allowing functional teams to debrief their specific work. This varied approach ensured a thorough examination of EVC's efforts from multiple angles, providing a comprehensive foundation for future planning.
Healing and Aligning: Group Coaching
Parallel to the main event, we embarked on a more intimate journey with a team facing internal challenges. In a separate, focused session, we employed executive presence strategies to create a space of vulnerability and authenticity. Team members shared their election season struggles, practiced active listening, and collectively forged a new path forward. Only then, with renewed trust and alignment, did they tackle their team-specific after-action review.