This document describes a process for improving collaboration among distributed teams. It involves 6 weekly 90-minute video sessions focused on developing key communication skills like listening, asking questions, and giving feedback. Through exercises using metaphor and "clean language" techniques, participants learn about each other's work styles and how to have more productive discussions. Evaluations found the approach helped teams engage more effectively, understand different perspectives better, and work together more successfully even from remote locations.

1. © JUDY REES 2017
Dynamic Collaboration
For Distributed Teams

2. RESULTS
 “People engaging more effectively with each other”
 “Listening and verifying their understanding”
 “Getting better answers – people are more
forthcoming”
 “More productive conversations”
 “Reduction in rework on analysis and design work”
 “Closer understanding of business needs”
 “Reduction in conflicts due to misunderstandings”
 Corinne Knight, Broadcast IT, BSkyB, London, UK
© JUDY REES 2017

3. OUTPUTS
 Colleagues work better together, even if they never meet
 Diversity within the group is valued and encouraged, with areas of specific
strength and weakness being acknowledged and developed
 3 key collaboration skills - listening, inquiry and advocacy – are enhanced
 Grievances are safely surfaced, explored and resolved
 New ways of working better together emerge, often by using existing
technology in a more productive way
 A safe environment for creative friction is created for the future
© JUDY REES 2017

4. ENGAGING PEOPLE
 People aren’t brains in jars! Effective thinking and communication involves
the head, heart and gut
 Our process is designed to get participants fully engaged from the start
 We ensure everyone knows what’s in it for them to contribute, and plays
an active part in co-creating results
 The planned programme is designed to flex in response to the needs of
the group
© JUDY REES 2017

5. DIVERSITY, COLLABORATION, CONFLICT
 “Innovation rarely happens unless
you have both diversity and conflict.”
Prof Linda Hill, Collective Genius
 Collaboration is NOT about:
 Uncomfortable consensus
 Conflict ‘resolution’
 Getting to ‘Yes’ at any price
© JUDY REES 2017

6. THE METAPHOR EFFECT
 Our underpinning framework, Clean Language, uses metaphor –
the atom of thought – to spark powerful conversations
 A deceptively simple ice-breaker provides the raw material for
profound exploration of team dynamics and for context-specific
communication skills development
 We ask: “When you are working at your best, you are like…
what?”
 Participants discover their similarities and differences, and find
ways to support each others’ unique working styles
© JUDY REES 2017

7. TYPICAL PROCESS
 Three to 12 people per group
 Six 90-minute weekly or two-weekly video
sessions
 Everyone needs their own device with a
webcam and headset, plus a quiet place to
call from
 Working online helps distributed teams to
master online communication
 Time between sessions helps to embed
learning in practical reality
© JUDY REES 2017

8. SIX 90-MINUTE SESSIONS
1. Sparking curiosity: Working at your
best
2. Hidden depths: beyond the hall of
mirrors
3. Feedback without fireworks
4. Contempt, conflict and connection
5. Ideas and innovation in online meetings
6. Clean keys to inevitable learning
© JUDY REES 2017

9. 90-MINUTE SESSION DETAILS
1. Sparking curiosity: Working at your best
 Discovering new aspects of your colleagues’ style through metaphor
2. Hidden depths: beyond the hall of mirrors
 How to direct attention to respectfully and safely find out what’s really going on,
by using effective listening and precision questions
3. Feedback without fireworks
 Learn and practice a process which makes giving and receiving feedback truly
“non-violent”, so that everyone gets it
© JUDY REES 2017

10. 90-MINUTE SESSION DETAILS
4. Contempt, conflict and connection
 Understand the root causes of misunderstandings, mistakes and disputes, so
that new ways forward can be found. Safely enable greater transparency within
the team
5. Ideas and innovation in online meetings
 Discover the shape of your most successful creative, collaborative meetings,
and learn how best to generate that online
6. Clean keys to inevitable learning
 Incorporating Clean communication principles into the team’s everyday work
© JUDY REES 2017

11. RESULTS
 "Our new team is very diverse, and we wanted to find a way towards
common ground, learn about each other and pick up useful
communication skills.
 We all agree that working with Judy helped us do all these things.
 “We have applied the techniques to clarify our communications to good
effect, both professionally within the organisation - and also in our
personal lives."
 David Clamp, Head of Safety and International Operational Support, Raleigh
International
© JUDY REES 2017

12. BACKGROUND READING
 Your Clean Language Questions Answered by Judy Rees
 Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds by Wendy
Sullivan and Judy Rees
 From Contempt To Curiosity by Caitlin Walker
© JUDY REES 2017

13. TAKE ACTION
 To book an exploratory call, contact Judy Rees
 judy@judyrees.co.uk
 +447979 495509
© JUDY REES 2017