True business transformation starts when teams stop just planning and start confronting the real barriers. It’s in those honest conversations and bold visions that real change takes root.

“If we don’t feel uncomfortable, we probably haven’t done our job.”

One of the participants said this during an Operational Health and Safety strategy workshop, and it’s been stuck in my head ever since.

This wasn’t your typical planning session with flip charts and sticky notes. We were there to shake things up—to challenge the way this team had always done business and help them see what was actually possible.

The Reality Check: Great Work, But…

Here’s the thing about this team: they were really good at what they did. The technical work was solid, clients were happy, and projects kept coming in. But scratch beneath the surface, and you’d see the cracks.

Everyone was working in their own little bubble. The West Coast team rarely talked to the East Coast team. The technical folks stayed in their lane, and the business development people stayed in theirs. Sure, they were busy, but they were stuck in a cycle of small, one-off projects instead of building the kind of deep client relationships that really move the needle.

When they talked about doubling their market in five years, it felt less like a vision and more like wishful thinking. Something had to change—not just in how they worked, but in how they thought about their work.

The Workshop: Getting Uncomfortable (On Purpose)

We knew we couldn’t just throw another strategic planning template at this team. They needed something different: part provocation, part collaboration.

Before we even got in the room, we had them do some homework: SWOT analyses, stakeholder surveys, vision-setting by region. Then, during the actual workshop, we mixed things up with real client stories, live testimonials, and hands-on exercises that forced them to look at their business through fresh eyes.

Some of my favorite moments:

• Client stories that opened eyes: Nothing beats hearing directly from clients about what they actually value (spoiler alert: it wasn’t always what the team thought)
• Visual mapping: We used MURAL to help them literally see the growth opportunities they’d been missing
• “Start/Stop/Keep” sessions: Making strategy concrete by asking, “What do we actually need to change?”
• Giving the younger folks a voice: The young professionals became our secret weapon—they asked questions the senior team had stopped asking years ago

We pushed them to dream bigger while also getting practical about what it would really take to get there.

What We Discovered (And What Surprised Us)

As the conversations got deeper, some really interesting patterns emerged:

The growth mindset shift was real. Once people started talking openly about being stuck in a “same old, same old” mentality, they couldn’t unsee it. Suddenly, everyone was asking why they’d been playing it so safe.

Collaboration wasn’t just nice-to-have—it was essential. The “aha” moment came when they realized their biggest opportunities required expertise from multiple regions and functions. No more going it alone.

Quality over quantity. Instead of chasing every RFP that crossed their desk, they started talking about choosing clients more strategically and building real partnerships instead of just completing projects.

The next generation was ready to step up. Some of the best ideas came from the younger team members, and the senior leaders started to see them as future business builders, not just technical contributors.

Leadership had to show up differently. The days of “set it and forget it” planning were over. Real growth meant getting hands-on, removing obstacles, and actually following through.

Naming the elephants in the room. From talent shortages to “that’s not how we do things here” thinking, they finally started talking about the real barriers holding them back.

What Changed (Beyond the Buzzwords)

By the time we wrapped up, this team had:

• A growth vision that actually excited people
• A clear picture of where they needed stronger leadership
• A prioritized list of clients worth investing in
• Concrete plans for working across regions
• New ways to stay connected and track progress

But here’s what mattered most: they were talking to each other differently. There was an energy in the room that hadn’t been there before—a sense of “we can actually do this” instead of “maybe someday.”

The Real Lesson

We know one workshop isn’t going to solve everything, but it can be the spark that gets things moving.

When you give people permission to be honest about what’s not working, challenge them to think beyond their current reality, and support them in figuring out how to get there, something shifts. The conversation changes and the possibilities expand.

Real strategy really is about changing how people see what’s possible and getting them excited about building it together.

Sometimes transformation doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Sometimes it just requires getting in a room, asking better questions, and being willing to get a little uncomfortable in the process.

What’s keeping your team playing it safe? We’d love to hear about the workshops or conversations that actually moved the needle for you.

Strategy that grounds you. Growth that moves you.™