The City of Meridian needed to develop an approach to guide strategic, long-term planning to accommodate a rapidly growing population. City staff knew from experience that this required a major shift in organizational thinking, and brought in a consultant from Leadership Advisor’s Group to facilitate the process. The consultant helped the city realize they needed more than just a strategic plan; they needed to learn how to manage change itself and transform their own organizational process.
The consultant used the ExperienceChange™ workshop to provide an engaging, hands-on simulation that empowered staff to roll-up their sleeves and take ownership of the change management process. Key decision-makers were selected to participate in training so that newly learned tactics would spread via their influence in day-to-day activities. During training, participants teamed up with colleagues from different departments, creating new opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and sharing.
The ExperienceChange™ simulation sparked cross-departmental collaboration, breaking down barriers between people and helping them get to know one another. Participants came away with a better understanding of their individual strengths, a willingness to communicate, and a greater appreciation for what each department did. Together, they completed a strategic plan with five specific focus areas, 20 broader goals and 75 objectives. The city council adopted the plan and quickly saw improvements.
