Finding The Inspiration For Transformation In External Insight

Inspiration For TransformationWhen the world stood still two years ago, no one really knew what life would look like on the other side. We had always lived a certain way and that very existence was being challenged by the pandemic. The entire world was thrown into needing to lean into transformation for our own sanity and wellbeing.

We were faced with the need to change, even though everything we’d been doing up until then was “fine”. Yes, it could have been better, more sustainable, and more aligned with the planet and one another, but for the most part, it had got us to where we were so why change? Because there is always the opportunity for change.

This leads us to our first in-person immersion since the 2020 pandemic. There was a whole eco-system of emotion around that, which affected the way things flowed. The excitement to be around and to connect with other humans was palpable. The leaders in the group of participants also hadn’t been in the same room together for two years. That’s a long time! This alone set the stage for a deep and impactful experience, but there was so much more to it.

They were ready to get back to doing what they do best, but there was a yearning to shift their leadership from their traditional thinking as a company to how that looks for the future. Did COVID play a part in that subtle shift? We like to think so. Whether consciously or sub-consciously, the pandemic made us all reconsider how we show up in the world and whether or not we could do that differently.

The Client – Global Food Manufacturer

With a heritage spanning over 150 years, this global producer of some of the world’s most favoured food brands wanted to shift the way they did things. Their impressive legacy has been founded on innovation, sound principles, bold ideas, and a deep passion for developing the familiar brands that have shaped all our lives. But even these business giants have self-reflective moments where they ask themselves if there’s something they could do differently.

Asking all the right questions that inspire growth and a unique perspective, their core goal was to gain an understanding of how other businesses think beyond their central functions. As a food producer, could they gain inspiration from businesses in tech or clothing production? And if so, how do you combine that inspiration with the action required to influence company culture and organizational transformation? How do you create the foundation for change to happen?

This was the underlying theme for a cohort of 12 to 16 senior leaders who were brought together for an accelerated development experience. This was planned to bring their leadership together in a way that would prepare them for broader enterprise roles and responsibilities within a new frame of thinking and acting.

Their Situation – Feeling The Need For Something Different

The organization’s leaders were already participating in a year-long program that included partner and coaching sessions. Within that program were three to four residential sessions, of which we were brought in for two. Immersion was proposed as a foundational component of this initiative to help these high-potential leaders to:

  • Develop and build on the capability to lead within complex situations and bursts of transformation.
  • Expand on their ability to pre-empt and adjust the future, leveraging external insight to inspire and offer direction.
  • Increase strategic leadership capabilities through their own personal insights, self-reflection, and decisive action.
  • Cultivate and nurture the mindsets that transform and accelerate learning.

The theme for the virtual program was “Inspiring others through a resolute focus on purpose” and the in-person program was “Accelerating and transforming to secure the future”, which is a perfect summation of what was achieved.

What We Did – The Immersion Learning Experience

The Immersion Lab partnered with a global consulting firm to bring this program to life. Getting us back to doing what we do best after the pandemic was incredibly exciting. This was echoed by the participants too as the pandemic had offered an opportunity to shift leaders from their more traditional way of thinking. While this had always served them brilliantly, they wanted to reassess how they could build on this going into the future.

The Immersion Lab participated with selected partners to align the immersion with the overall program goals. Through two immersions – one online and one in person – we were able to embed the theme of accelerating and transforming into each experience with the help of game-changing leaders hosting discussions around selected themes.

  • We designed and set up to ten immersion experiences, three virtual and seven in-person.
    • For the virtual immersions, the group of leaders were split into three teams, each having one meeting. They met with inspirational individuals who are leading purposeful change around significant causes and within their businesses.
    • For the in-person immersions, the leaders experienced three immersions split over two days. On the first day, they had an informal conversation with leaders known for accelerating growth through brand extension. On day two, they met with exemplars who are well-known for balancing short-term growth with the innovation required to plan for long-term excellence. This was followed by a meeting with high-growth startups that have been recognized for disrupting the way that consumers engage in the digital world.
  • We provided the participants with a self-paced learning module that covered the fundamental tenets of immersion learning. They worked through this before settling into the immersions.
  • We prepared a 30-to-45-minute preparatory session the evening prior to the immersion, where the teams had the opportunity to debrief pre-work and align on their plans for the team’s immersion experience.
  • The immersions then took place, bringing teams together with revolutionary leaders.
  • The Immersion Lab facilitated a reflection and debriefing session immediately following the immersion, while everything was fresh in everyone’s minds, giving them the chance to unpack their learning and find ways to turn it into action.

The Impact

For our first in-person session together after COVID, it was a smooth and exciting experience. One of our partners mentioned that our logistics were timed like Swiss watches, which is something to be proud of given the challenges that the pandemic posed for everyone.

The immersions really set the stage for intensive and engaging discussions around transforming ideas and the potential for new offerings outside of the organization’s core industry. The teams relished numerous perspectives and absorbed insights from a broad range of leaders from different industries, showing them that at the very core of each industry is the same desire to transform, to grow, and to try things differently.