Better Together

Our April Monday Kickstarters group took on the challenge of addressing a conflict between an international NGO and a local organization which were not working well together. Collaboration between such organizations can be complex, especially when goals are shared but approaches, histories, and resources differ. At times, this tension can lead to miscommunication, frustration, and a sense of working at cross-purposes. Yet, beneath these challenges lies a shared commitment to impact, equity, and meaningful change.

By focusing on what unites us—and engaging in open, constructive dialogue—we can begin to shift from mistrust to partnership, and from parallel efforts to powerful alignment. To initiate constructive dialogue for this situation, the Kickstarters group first flipped the situation and identified a positive frame, and then created generative questions to help move towards the frame.

Flipping and the Positive Frame

• Name it: We don’t work well together.
• Flip it: We do work well together.
• Frame it: Feeling heard and valued, we are a part of something great.

Additional Positive Frames   

• Appreciation for everyone’s perspectives.
• Working together has a positive impact on both organizations and the people around us.
• Our organizations are aligned and focused on a compelling common purpose.
• People enjoy working together.
• A growing sense of "we" as both groups work together.
• Through our constructive alignment we strengthen our work and impact.
• Curiosity is everywhere!
• An energized solutions-focused entity.
• We see the value in the other group.
• We constantly reflect on our relationship to make it better.

Generative Questions

To move toward the frame - feeling heard and valued, we are a part of something great - we can engage each other with questions that spark learning, reflection, and shared vision: 

• When have we worked well together before, what were we doing and what conditions made that possible?
• When did we work well together in the past and what were the results we produced?
• What creates joy for us when working together?
• What are our strengths as an organization?
• What’s most important to us individually and as a group?
• What common values draw us together?
• How can we make sure everyone’s voice is being heard?
• What does partnership mean to us as individuals and organizations? How do we define it for ourselves and others?
• Who has a really great partnership that we would like to emulate?
• Imagine it is five years from now. What would the relationship look like between the two organizations?
• What assumptions are we making?
• What is the biggest challenge for me personally?

Cool Tip

Next time you catch yourself (or your team) saying, “This just isn’t working,” try flipping it in real time. Ask, “What would it look like if it was working?” or “What’s the outcome we want to move toward?” Positive framing isn’t about ignoring the problem—it’s about shifting the spotlight from the mess to the message.

About Monday Kickstarters

This topic came from our April 2025 Monday Kickstarters series, working sessions to figure out how to have a conversation worth having when faced with a tough situation, challenge, or problem with leadership or performance. 

Shared by: Shared by: Sylvette Wake, a certified Conversations Worth Having and Strategic Conversations Bootcamp Facilitator, Professional Skills Facilitator and Life Coach. Sylvette Wake is a certified Conversations Worth Having and Strategic Conversations Bootcamp facilitator, professional skills trainer, and life coach. With a knack for turning workplace challenges into growth opportunities, Sylvette brings experience, insight and a British sense of humor to enliven every event she facilitates.