Surfacing Tensions
A Surfacing Tensions workshop gives an established team a safe, structured way to bring the unspoken friction into the open and work with it. The team leaves having cleared some air, with a way of handling friction that does not rely on it either festering or exploding.
✓ Created by former KPMG & McKinsey consultants

What You'll Achieve with the Surfacing Tensions Workshop
Real outcomes that transform your team
Increased trust and openness within the team.
Clear understanding of how to manage ongoing tensions.
Actionable next steps for resolving specific conflicts.
When to Use the Surfacing Tensions Workshop
Perfect for these situations and team challenges
When team leaders notice unresolved conflicts affecting work.
For consultants facilitating team-building exercises.
How the Surfacing Tensions Workshop Works
A step-by-step breakdown of the workshop process
1Step 1: Check-in and Frame
Set a safe environment by discussing ground rules and the aim of the session, encouraging open communication.
2Step 2: Surface What's Unspoken
Participants anonymously write down unspoken tensions, which are then shared and clustered into themes to identify common issues.
3Step 3: Sort the Tensions
The group distinguishes between problems to solve and ongoing tensions to manage, categorizing them appropriately.
4Step 4: Work a Tension Together
Select one or two tensions to work on constructively, mapping out solutions or balances to manage the identified issues.
Key Topics Covered in the Surfacing Tensions Workshop
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