Personal Histories + Trust

Use this at the start of a leadership offsite, with a new exec joining, or when the team is polite but guarded. Allow 60–90 minutes. Psychological safety is a prerequisite, not an outcome.

The exercise

Personal histories

Go around the table. Each person shares one childhood challenge or formative moment — keep it human, not performative.

“A move between countries at 12; losing a parent young; the first time they led a team and got it wrong.”

What I need from this team

Each person answers: "What do I need from this team to feel fully myself?" Listen without fixing.

“Direct feedback without softening; permission to say no to meetings; space to think before deciding.”

Optional warm-up: run Blob Tree first if the team is new to hard conversations.

Source / credit

Patrick Lencioni · The Five Dysfunctions of a Team · Adapted for Outstride OS

Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Framework

A pyramid model for building trust, productive conflict, commitment, accountability and collective results on a leadership team.

Blob Tree

Exercise

A non-verbal reflection tool — pick the blob figures that match how you feel or where you sit in a group, then use that as a starting point for honest conversation.

Four Disciplines of Organizational Health

Framework

Four sequential disciplines — cohesive team, clarity, over-communication, and systems — that turn organizational health into competitive advantage.

Work with Ben

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Use this at the start of a leadership offsite, with a new exec joining, or when the team is polite but guarded. Allow 60–90 minutes. Psychological safety is a prerequisite, not an outcome.

The exercise