The Value of Diverse Working Styles
How a Leadership Workshop Transformed Team Dynamics
Day1 helped the leadership team at Genuine Media see the value in different working styles and turn challenges into opportunity.
Background
After a successful strategic planning engagement resulted in improved long-range planning and organizational structure, Genuine Media faced a new challenge. While they had built a great framework for future growth, lingering communication gaps were preventing them from fully capitalizing on their growth plan. With a mix of tenured and emerging leaders, Genuine Media again turned to Day1.
Day1 curated a series of targeted team building workshops that would ultimately transform how the leadership team understood themselves – and each other.
The Challenge
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Communication Gaps
between those with an exploratory thinking style and those with a detail-focused approach
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Team Energy
that felt fragmented rather than unified around their shared vision
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Decision-making Delays
as team members struggled to understand each other's perspectives
The Solution
Day1 designed and facilitated a series of virtual leadership workshops for Genuine Media’s geographically dispersed team. Incorporating diagnostic tools like the Working Genius framework, Day1 focused on team dynamics and exploring the different ways that people approach problems. Workshop components included:
✔ Cognitive Style Mapping: Assessments to understand each team member's natural thinking patterns and decision-making preferences
✔ Communication Bridge-Building: Developing shared language and frameworks for different thinking styles
✔ Identifying Opportunities to Collaborate: Learning to leverage diverse strengths rather than merely accommodate differences
The Results
The “Aha” Moment That Changed Everything
The breakthrough came when the team realized that what they had interpreted as points of resistance were actually complementary strengths. Where one team member might excel at long-term strategy, another might be better at solving the problems of today. But together? There was no limit to what they could do.
The energy and insight from the workshop have carried through to day-to-day work.
Better Collaboration & Morale
Team members feel more seen and valued, and collaboration is more fluid and productive across the organization.
Maximizing Internal Resources
Leaders have begun intentionally assembling teams with a variety of thinking styles.
“When we think about setting up a meeting, we think differently. It’s like, ‘Oh, I need to make sure I have this kind of person present.’”
Stronger Communication
Leaders now understand not only how their colleagues think, but why. What once caused friction is now seen as fuel for better solutions.
Shelley Warner
Proprietor, Genuine Media
“People value people differently now. You can’t have all the same thinkers. Everyone now feels more included.
That’s definitely helped with morale, retention and enjoyment.”
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