A few years ago, a former creative partner of mine asked for my help with one of his projects. A family co-owned a stunning property in Italy and wanted to convert it into a regenerative retreat and educational center.
They were struggling to find a cohesive vision as a team. It was unclear who would do what, and there were a lot of egos in the room.
He wanted Steph to save the day with a vision alignment session for the team.
So I showed up on a zoom call with eight strangers to help find a shared vision.
I led them through a few visioning exercises, including one of my favorites:
I dream of a world where…
The idea was to draw out each person’s dreams for the property and then weave them together into a collective vision that clarified everyone’s roles.
Easy and natural, right?
Well, half the group wasn’t buying it. Raised eyebrows and flat faces greeted me, instead of the peaceful, satisfied smiles I was hoping for.
The other half seemed to be enjoying themselves, but we didn’t get anywhere near the cohesiveness I was hoping for. Perhaps something was lost in cultural differences. (I have an Italian last name and nose, but not much else.)
Afterward, my colleague passed on this feedback from one of the family members:
“That woman was way too happy. What drug is she on?”
It’s still one of my favorite (un)testimonials ever.
It reminds me of the scene in When Harry Met Sally. Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm in the restaurant and an older woman says to the waiter, “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Still, I learned quite a bit from my experience with the Italians.
#1 – Establish a clear context.
My colleague hadn’t prepped the family on what I’d be doing and why they should care. Without their buy-in, it fell flat.
I wouldn’t agree to facilitate a session like that without connecting with the individuals and establishing rapport first. And I wouldn’t do that unless I…
#2 – Get paid for team facilitation.
It’s not just about the money, though of course, that matters. Paying creates investment. They’re already seeing the value and they showing up to create it.
As it was, they had little connection to the outcome my colleague had in mind. From his point of view, they needed me. From theirs, it was questionable.
#3 – Be real and direct.
Four-years ago Steph was probably to insecure to call out the resistance in the room.
Today, I know more about the power of being real, and I’m willing to be clueless in addressing it. I’d say something like:
“It seems to me everyone here isn’t interested in what we’re doing. What would you actually like to create?”
Being real always works better than pretending and holding back.
And honestly, I am really good at drawing out a team’s vision and weaving it into something cohesive and inspiring. That’s one of my favorite kinds of work.
But without context or consent, it’s as out of place as a fake orgasm in a diner. Entertaining sure, but kind of misplaced.
So let me ask you something:
Do you have a big vision isn’t moving? Or a team that’s not aligned around it?
If you’re ready to turn that vision into something living and breathing (and maybe even wildly successful), let’s talk.
That’s what I do in the IMPACT membership, bring clarity, energy, and inspired action to your biggest ideas. It’s also what I do with private clients who are leading projects that matter.
If that’s you, let’s explore together.
Tell me about what you’re up to here, and book an Inspired Action chat.
Yours in love and play,
Steph
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