Change From Within

This post is the third in a series of ten that are currently being featured on LinkedIn in honor of the Crossland Group’s 25th Anniversary.

People are at the center of our work. They come from all walks of life, carrying different assumptions, life experiences, biases, sufferings, and hopes that play out in and outside of the workplace. At Crossland, we believe this kaleidoscope of experiences shapes our values and how each of us shows up. As our practice has evolved, we understand that people change from the inside-out, not the other way around. And when people self-reflect, it becomes a powerful catalyst for building community, bridging divides, and fostering belonging.

Over the years, we have worked with groups of people who are willing to examine their own internal condition to build a stronger foundation that’s not easily rattled by outside forces. We’ve observed how effective these groups are at holding multiple truths to more readily accept accountability and move ideas and decisions forward. Often when people have not done the work to understand their own level of self-awareness and emotional health, it can chip away at trust, disrupt relationships, and negatively impact culture. Instead of relying on leaders to make changes, everyone must be accountable for looking inward. Change can only be real and lasting when everyone accepts responsibility for their own mindset.

We’ve made it a practice to hold up the mirror to ourselves to better understand our own attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives. We've been able to identify the root causes of a number of issues that prevent teams from functioning well. It takes time to explore what is happening in the moment between individuals or teams. Taking the time to surface “events” that harm the effectiveness of individuals and teams and checking our own internal “blind spots” has become integral to our way of working.

#Crossland25