Cross the line
Our beliefs can hinder or strengthen us. To find out what beliefs we have about changing the organization, you can do the following exercise:
- Divide the room in half by drawing a line or making one with tape. Place a floor mat with YES on one side of the line and a floor mat with NO on the other side.
- Ask everyone to stand. Then ask the participants: “Do you believe you can change yourself?” Ask the participants to stand on one side of the line depending on their answer (the YES or NO area).
- Ask two or three people to explain why they are standing where they are. Usually, it comes out, but you can also explain that you can continuously change and adapt your behavior.
- Then ask the question: “Do you believe you can change the team you are part of?” Ask the participants to stand in the YES or NO area again. Some will now cross the line.
- Again, ask two or three participants why they are standing where they are or why they changed areas. Here too, it often comes out automatically, but you can explain that you can change the team by making an impact, setting a good example, holding retrospectives, making things discussable, proposing new ways of working, etc.
- Finally, ask the group: “Do you believe you can change the organization you work for?” Participants choose again to stand in the YES or NO area.
- Ask two or three people to respond again. Here too, if necessary, explain that it is about exercising influence and taking others with you. It is like throwing a stone into the water: you see the ripples in the water spreading wider. This is how it works in organizations too. But it starts with the confidence that you can play a role in changing the organization.
