And weak or damaged relationships across teams and leadership. After making this assessment, Mariana strategies recommended and developed a day-long retreat aimed at repairing relationships, building trust and enhancing psychological safety at every level and across the organization.

Mariana Strategies first connected the data on inclusion and exclusion at the organization, explaining the need for this intervention. With the buy-in of the staff and leadership, Mariana Strategies held focus groups to determine the objectives for a retreat and the components that would be meaningful for reaching those objectives.  

The team landed on the following objectives:

• Build and rebuild relationships in a one-day off-site meeting;

• Grow connectedness among teams and across the organization;

• Develop psychological safety of teams through engagement in activities; and

• Understanding one another’s values and building empathy.

Over the course of an eight-hour day in a relaxed, off-site setting, individuals (many of whom had never met in person) were able to build and/or rekindle relationships that had been eroded by unclear organizational decisions. By hearing the stories of team members and getting to know them as people, not just coworkers, individuals reported that they felt the goals of the event were met.

Subsequently, and as part of continued DEIA work at the organization, Mariana Strategies has observed increased engagement, deeper connection and candor in challenging conversations and a greater focus on collaboration – all fundamental components of building inclusive culture at the organization.