A fast-growing startup was struggling to make decisions quickly enough to match its growth ambitions.

The founder wanted her team to stand on their own two feet so she could focus on strategic work rather than daily decision-making.
During discovery calls, it became clear that the common thread was niceness: the team avoided disagreement, leading to stalled discussions and circular meetings.
As a result, projects dragged on, decisions were delayed, and accountability was blurred.

A one-day team development workshop designed to strengthen communication and decision-making through constructive conflict.

Introduced principles from Patrick Lencioni’s work on The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, focusing on building trust and embracing healthy debate.
Facilitated practical training on what productive conflict looks and feels like — helping the team separate disagreement from disconnection.
Ran a live exercise on a real, six-month-stalled business decision to apply the tools in real time.
The team resolved that issue in 43 minutes — setting a new standard for clarity and courage in discussion.

Six months later, both the founder and team reported transformational change:

Communication: Honest, constructive conversations have replaced politeness paralysis.
Decision-making: Faster, clearer, and more collaborative.
Leadership: Team members have developed confidence and ownership — described by the founder as “a team of leaders.”
Culture: Stronger alignment, defined processes, and a communication culture that supports sustained growth.
Business impact: Increased profitability and the ability to expand the workforce with shared ways of working and decision-making clarity.

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