Inspiring Collaboration: How Thoughtful Scrutiny Sessions Bring Teams Together (Part 1 of 3)
Welcome to the first part of a three-part series on creating a culture of openness and building collaborative teams. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate enough to lead Customer Success teams at various companies, and no matter the context or industry, one key factor has consistently driven our success – fostering a culture of openness and collaboration. I'm excited to share with you a powerful method I've used with multiple teams I've managed: Thoughtful Scrutiny Sessions, which were initially called "Devil's Advocate Sessions." These sessions have become an integral part of our team meetings, nurturing growth and development.
During these Thoughtful Scrutiny Sessions, I present a well-researched idea or plan that I believe could significantly benefit our customers. Rather than dictating it as a finalized decision, I invite my team to question the idea, identify potential flaws, and share their concerns or hesitations. At times, I even divide the team into two groups, asking them to engage in a brief debate on the pros and cons of the approach. By the end of the session, we all have a clear understanding of where we stand on the new plan.
This approach has taught me the importance of valuing diverse perspectives and being open to adjusting my own opinions. It has been a learning experience to set aside my personal bias and truly listen to the team's feedback. But by embracing their input and considering their concerns, we've been able to make better decisions and achieve greater success together.
There have also been instances where I had to implement a change mandated from higher up. In these cases, my team's buy-in was even stronger, as they understood that the decision was out of my control. These sessions have shown me that as a leader, my job isn't to know everything, but rather to help my team grow, do great work, and achieve their goals. By putting the team's best interests first and maintaining a thoughtful disposition, I've been able to create a collaborative environment where we can all thrive and contribute to the success of our customers.
In summary, here are the key learnings from our Thoughtful Scrutiny Sessions:
Embrace openness and collaboration by valuing diverse opinions and ideas.
Adjust your perspective when necessary, considering your team's feedback and concerns.
Prioritize your team's growth and success, setting aside ego to foster a thriving environment.
Stay tuned for the next two articles in this series, where we'll delve deeper into creating a culture of openness and collaboration, and continue to explore strategies for building strong, cohesive teams. As a leader, I've seen firsthand how Thoughtful Scrutiny Sessions can inspire collaboration and unlock a team's full potential. How might Thoughtful Scrutiny Sessions transform your team's dynamic and elevate your leadership?
