So Much Effort,
So Little Progress

The Context
Each executive team member brought a track record of professional success. They respected one another's experience, enjoyed working together, and often stepped up to support each other. They were committed—to the organization and to each other—and regularly went the extra mile.

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But something wasn't working.

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Despite shared dedication and goodwill, collaboration remained difficult. Progress came slowly, and results fell short of expectations.

Amidst mounting external pressures, the team committed to a bold new goal—one that would secure the organization's future in turbulent times.

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However, every step forward was hampered by one step back. One executive, in particular, became noticeably disengaged—guarded and unproductive—further straining the team dynamic.

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The Action

One team member reached out to Thrive Purpose:

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"We've tried everything to get her on board. But instead of contributing, she dominates meetings with long monologues that derail us. We can't function like this."

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Thrive Purpose was engaged to assess the team's cognitive strengths and dynamics. This was done by holding one-to-one casual conversations with each team member. 

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The Insight
The assessment revealed a three-fold challenge:

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1. Missing Essential Capabilities - The executive team was composed entirely of strong problem solvers, but lacked dominant decision-makers. This imbalance kept them stuck in analysis and discussion—struggling to take decisive action.

2. Misaligned Responsibilities - The team didn't fully understand the cognitive strengths required for different initiatives. As a result, those that were taken on were hindered by significant missteps, leading to costly rework or subpar results.

3. Capability Mismatch and Rising Stress - One executive, in a sincere effort to support the team, had taken on work outside her natural ability set. Over time, this led to cognitive overload, stress, and a shift into an unproductive pattern of behavior that further hindered team progress.

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The Result
In an interactive workshop with the executive team, Thrive Purpose provided an overarching strategy and concrete steps that enabled them to move forward more productively.

• The team was presented with a cognitive type map—a visual framework that revealed their one-sidedness and the missing decision-making strengths. From there, a proposal was outlined for balancing the team through both external partnerships and strategic hires.

• The importance of selecting the person with the necessary abilities and the impact this has on progress and the use of precious resources was provided, and related back to their successes and struggles. The explanation, combined with experience, provided the clarity needed. 

• The strengths of each executive and how these can contribute to the organization's goals were discussed conceptually and outlined concretely. Each executive felt seen, valued, and knew how to best contribute. 

 

For the struggling executive, this was a turning point. She was reminded of her true strengths and shown how to realign her efforts in ways that created value without burnout. With additional support, she was able to shift from a controlling stance to a more aligned and impactful role.

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For the team as a whole, they developed a greater understanding of what is possible when people use their gifts, and the impact of when these are missing. They enhanced their knowledge of what they are capable of and how to apply their gifts. Through a deeper understanding of one another, they were able to communicate and partner more effectively and make more informed decisions faster. 

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The result? A clearer path forward, better collaboration, and renewed energy to achieve what once felt out of reach.