⚒⚒ | ＄ | ⏲⏲ | “Core Protocols” is a collection of best practices that enable individuals, teams, and entire organizations to communicate openly and effectively with one another. Each Core Protocol consists of a simple set of communication and behavior rules. Core Protocols, when used correctly, facilitate constructive problem-solving while allowing more rational and fast decision-making.
⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | The aim of the feedback walk is to foster a respectful and trusting relationship as well as the personal growth of both conversation partners. A varied environment and outdoor activity lead to a relaxed atmosphere and helps in gaining distance from day-to-day business and embracing a new perspective.
As part of the pilot for the Toolkit: Women & Diversity in Innovation, Comvation has set itself the goals of offering employees different perspectives and further developing diversity in its teams. The SME eliminated traditional employee appraisals some time ago. Instead, regular “feedback walks” support employees in their personal development and contribute to effective networking among staff.
⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless use the term “liberating structures” to summarize 33 “microstructures” that enable a high degree of participation in innovation processes. These focus on active collaboration in teams and organizations. Liberating structures helps managers and staff in the field of research & development to create an inclusive and creative working environment.
⚒⚒ | ＄＄ | ⏲⏲ | Conscious relaxation activities help participants to relieve tension in their daily work. Group training in mindful communication can have a very beneficial impact on the growth of diverse teams. Participants become more self-aware and familiar with their team members when learning a mindful communication approach together.
⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | “Psychological safety” allows members of an innovation team to work and learn without discomfort. This is an essential pre-condition for personal growth and outstanding performance. A “psychologically safe” working environment prevents harmful group dynamics such as “groupthink” from arising and thus leads to better decisions and a broader range of ideas.
⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | Individual ideas about seemingly trivial matters such as punctuality or linguistic etiquette often differ significantly in diverse teams. Research & development teams can define explicit rules of conduct in the form of clear dos and don’ts in the form of a “team contract”. An essential element is that all team members jointly agree on the team contract and endorse it.
⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | Using the “Team Effectiveness Discussion Guide”, innovation teams can identify which factors are particularly relevant for their collaboration and which factors may even harm it. All team members have equal opportunities to express their opinions. With the insights gained from the discussion, specific measures can be introduced to increase the quality and effectiveness of team collaboration.
As a globally active software company with its headquarters in Zurich, Netcetera operates in 15 locations across seven countries. This international cooperation offers a wealth of opportunities for mutual exchange and learning. In a workshop during the onboarding process, new employees are motivated to share their experiences, ask questions, and make suggestions for improvement.