Transform Your Company’s Culture: The Benefits of Organisational Psychotherapy
The following story illustrates the power of company culture, how it can significantly impact the overall success and well-being of an organisation, and how Organisational Psychotherapy serves to both accelerate and de-risk culture change.
I was brought on as an organisational psychotherapist to work with a go-getting, fast-growing company that had been in business for a decade.
Despite their success, the company’s leaders were noticing a sense of disengagement and dissatisfaction among their people, and communication seemed to be breaking down. They knew they needed to take action, but they weren’t sure where to start.
As I began working with the company,, I helped them begin to reflect on the collective psyche of their organisation. We delved into the company’s shared assumptions and beliefs, and people reflected on how these things had shaped the company’s culture. We also looked at how these things were impacting the way people were working together, the social dynamic, and how this was affecting the success of the company.
Through this process, people began to surface and reflect on the collective assumptions and beliefs that were holding their company back. They began to realise that they had been operating under the assumption that everyone should be working in the same way and that there was only one right way to do things. They also acknowledged that they had been holding onto the belief that the company’s success was the result of the hard work and dedication of a few key individuals, rather than the collective efforts of the entire crew.
With some assumptions out in the open and discussable, people began shifting their thinking. They realised that they needed to create a culture that encouraged collaboration and diversity and that they needed to empower their employees to take ownership of their work and make decisions. They also decided, together, to revamp the regular all-hands meetings where everyone could share their thoughts and ideas and encouraged open and honest communication.
As a result of this work, the company began to see a transformation. People began working together more effectively, communication improved, and there was a renewed sense of energy and engagement. Everyone was able to see that by being conscious of their collective psyche, they were able to create a culture that was more supportive, inclusive, and sustainable.
In my experience, organisational psychotherapy is not just about identifying problems or discovering solutions. It’s about creating a space for people to surface and reflect on their collective assumptions and beliefs, which can lead to a more supportive and sustainable culture. By working with the collective psyche of an organisation, it’s possible to create a culture that encourages collaboration, diversity, and empowerment, leading to a more engaged and productive crew.
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