This article was first published in our Cocooners N° 16
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If you want to know more, or engage your organization with this approach, please get in touch, here: https://cocoon-pro.com/get-in-touch/
How can a multidisciplinary team in an addiction recovery community remain cohesive and recognize itself in a coherent identity in a moment of organizational evolution and generational change? Here is the story of the diverse Palombara Community and how they have embraced the challenge, stepping forward with courage and openness. Together, they have experienced a collective journey of discovery, revealing the everyday wisdom that guides them.
Why working together
The Dianova Community of Palombara is an addiction recovery community nested in the greenery of Sabina Laziale, surrounded by olive trees. The multidisciplinary team supporting the men and women there consists of professionals from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to make a difference and offer genuine help to those navigating difficult moments in their lives.
The reason for starting the collaboration with Cocoon Pro was the arrival of a new Director and an organizational and management shift, but what unfolded went far beyond this initial need.
The power of listening
As usual, we started with listening and observation, focussing on three key dimensions: identity, trajectory, and context. We created a safe space for each team member to express who they were, share their thoughts, and express their feelings at a deeper level. From there, we built on the insights that emerged, on the needs that surfaced, on the dynamics that developed, and on the evolving relationships among them. Each team member’s impact on the lives of the people in the community’s programs is profound, and their genuine care inspired us from the beginning.
Identity as a pivot
The work on the identity was essential in helping participants recognize and appreciate both their current and aspirational selves, fostering greater self-awareness and a clear sense of their developmental direction. We aligned personal values with future goals, enhancing commitment and motivation to achieve meaningful milestones. This process also clarified each participant’s vision for growth, inspiring choices, behaviours, and habits more aligned with their aspirations.
Enhancing teamwork and trust
Working on collaboration and communication enhanced the quality of teamwork, fostering openness and trust. In a setting with diverse ages, levels of seniority, and areas of expertise, going beyond assumptions, clarifying work methods and establishing shared guiding principles was essential—especially within the complex dynamics of a recovery community. This approach boosted motivation, accelerated the development of collaborative solutions, strengthened the ability to face challenges together effectively, and deepened each team member’s sense of belonging.
The value of working together
Promoting and enabling ownership, delegation, and alignment strengthened the team’s trust and sense of responsibility. This approach encouraged team members to be more proactive and focused on shared goals, enhancing the quality of decision-making and collective responsiveness. The clear result is a more united and motivated team, capable of adapting to the daily constant challenges – both small and large – while creating value for the team, the users, and society as a whole.
Final thoughts
“Creating the right environment to encourage participation, harness collective intelligence, and mediate diverse viewpoints were just a few of the elements that emerged during the meeting. The journey with Cocoon was incredibly energizing; the consultants instilled a remarkable positivity that benefited all participants. Ideally, all successful training programs should be replicable. This one certainly merits our full consideration.”
– Renato Pocaterra
This article was first published in our Cocooners N° 16
If you would like to receive updates on this and other topics related to the evolution of the world of work, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://cocoon-pro.com/#subscribe
If you want to know more, or engage your organization with this approach, please get in touch, here: https://cocoon-pro.com/get-in-touch/