The Grove

“It created in one picture frame our past, present, and where we were headed. The one picture allowed me to explain in five minutes or an hour, to whatever audience, what was appropriate for them.”

“We now have common language for teaming that unites us within Gore’s team-based culture. Associates are embracing the Team Performance Model and its supporting language. We are prioritizing activities that lay a foundation for strong, effective teaming.”

“I can give The Grove an unqualified thumbs-up. We’ve had their senior consultants facilitate various meetings for us over the past three years, maybe twenty meetings in all, and they always deliver top-notch work.”

““Working with The Grove to create a Storymap allowed us to form a common vocabulary and storyline that we use both for internal sales training and as a conversation tool for our sales teams to use with their customers. The process and methodology absolutely work.””

““Across the board, we have heard feedback that it is refreshing to have a conversation about a transformational IT change without talking technology. It allows us to find common ground with almost anyone, regardless of their level of background and understanding. This has helped us open conversations we otherwise would not be having.””

““If you are looking for the secret sauce, it is engagement. We conducted a session in every single office for every single person in the firm, so that everybody’s fingerprints were on the final vision. People really took to that method of interaction. It allowed them to contribute meaningfully within a planning process that valued input and interaction. In the end they felt, ‘My ideas are part of this.’””

“The Unity Council History Mural project has allowed me to reunite those who have built The Unity Council over the past 50 years. It has allowed me to listen and learn how needs in the community were addressed and then met and how our programs have evolved over the years. The History Mural has been very well received by our board and members in the community, as well as by our elected officials including Mayor Quan, Congresswomen Barbara Lee and Assemblymember Rob Bonta. It is a great way to kick off our 50th Anniversary in 2014.”

“Strategic change in organizations is about changing people’s behavior and attitudes as much as it is about changing processes and procedures. In order to successfully facilitate change, you need a process that is both blame-free and cognizant of the mental struggle of letting go and finding ways to do things better. The unique support you get from The Grove is an intentional process in which people are engaged from the bottom up and can consider both their fears and their dreams, which allows them to let go of old practices and embrace, own, and get excited about the change.”

“We are taking the existing map and promulgating it across the campus and using it in a variety of ways. It feels like the map is very present. It is being seen as a leadership tool. The chancellor uses it and the academic leadership has begun using it in an active way. We had a breakfast with 150 staff, marking years of service at UC Merced and the Vision Map was at every table.”

““Accelerating the performance of these teams–from team formation through later phases—is critical. The need for more tools and ‘on-demand learning’ is also key. Having many of The Grove’s team practices available online facilitates both of these needs at BD.””

““The BD team tools website is available to associates globally, so that all of our leaders have access to The Grove's best practices for accelerating team performance,””

“In all of their work, the program participants are being viewed as rock stars when it comes to successfully supporting cultural change throughout the organization. It is really exciting to witness.”

““The Grove Storymap was the glue that held this very important event together. You’ve earned customers for life!””

““(The Grove) was an absolute pleasure to work with,” said Bill Gleeson, VP of communications. “I can't tell you how much I appreciated their expertise, outstanding work, good nature and fast turnaround under some very tight timelines.””

“It was important to establish a partnership with an external provider who really listened to us about the purposes we needed support for, the venues we wanted to focus in on, and the specific things their team could offer us to carry the work forward. We were listened to with sensitivity to what support we needed as we moved the work system-wide.”

“Having our history, vision and strategy on one sheet of paper has been invaluable in explaining our new organization.”