The ALLY Academy Series
How to Move Past False Appearances of Agreement to Reach Consensus and Move Ideas Forward
Course Overview: This course explores the concept of artificial harmony, where false agreement stifles progress. Participants will learn to identify and overcome this dynamic, fostering genuine dialogue and consensus in teams. Through case studies, interactive exercises, and practical tools, they will gain strategies to move ideas forward and achieve effective collaboration.
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What's included?
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Understand the concept of artificial harmony and its impact on team dynamics.
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Recognize the signs of artificial harmony in group settings.
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Explore techniques to encourage genuine dialogue and disagreement.
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Develop strategies to foster real consensus and move ideas forward.
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Utilizing emotional intelligence to build cohesive and high-performing teams.
Who will benefit
Managers, Supervisors, Team Leaders, Project Managers and Contributors.
Reason: All team members can benefit from learning how to recognize and overcome artificial harmony. This knowledge empowers them to contribute more effectively to discussions, express their true opinions, and engage in more productive collaborations
Discuss with others
Role-playing and scenario analysis.
Participate in our online private community, share thoughts and ideas, increase connection, and get help.
Class Outline
Introduction to Artificial Harmony (20 minutes)
• Definition: What is artificial harmony?
• Why It Matters: The cost of false agreement in teams and organizations.
• Real-World Examples: Case studies where artificial harmony led to failure or stagnation.
• Discussion: Participants share experiences of artificial harmony in their own teams.
Recognizing the Signs of Artificial Harmony (20 minutes)
• Common Indicators: Lack of debate, over-politeness, groupthink, etc.
• Root Causes: Fear of conflict, desire for approval, misaligned incentives.
• Interactive Activity: Role-playing scenarios where artificial harmony might arise.
The Risks and Consequences (20 minutes)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Impacts: On team effectiveness, decision-making, and innovation.
• Case Study Analysis: Review of a project or decision where artificial harmony caused problems.
Breaking the Cycle – Encouraging Genuine Dialogue (30 minutes)
• Creating a Safe Environment: Psychological safety and its importance.
• Techniques for Healthy Disagreement: Structured debates, devil’s advocate, and other methods.
• Interactive Exercise: Practice facilitating a tough conversation in small groups.
Building Toward Consensus (20 minutes)
• Distinguishing Between Consensus and Compromise: When and how to use each.
• Tools for Consensus Building: Round-robin discussions, multi-voting, and more.
• Case Studies: Successful examples of teams moving past artificial harmony to reach consensus.
Moving Ideas Forward (20 minutes)
• Action Planning: Translating consensus into actionable steps.
• Monitoring and Accountability: Ensuring follow-through and revisiting decisions if needed.
• Interactive Workshop: Develop an action plan for a hypothetical team scenario.
Overcoming Obstacles (20 minutes)
• Addressing Resistance: How to deal with team members resistant to change.
• Continuous Improvement: Embedding these practices into team culture.
• Q&A Session: Open floor for participants to ask questions and share insights.
• Addressing Resistance: How to deal with team members resistant to change.
• Continuous Improvement: Embedding these practices into team culture.
• Q&A Session: Open floor for participants to ask questions and share insights.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways (20 minutes)
• Summary of Key Points: Reinforce the importance of moving past artificial harmony.
• Final Thoughts: Encouragement to apply these concepts in participants' teams.
• Feedback Collection: Quick survey or discussion on what participants found most valuable.
• Summary of Key Points: Reinforce the importance of moving past artificial harmony.
• Final Thoughts: Encouragement to apply these concepts in participants' teams.
• Feedback Collection: Quick survey or discussion on what participants found most valuable.
Materials Needed:
• Case studies or examples for discussion.
• Role-playing scripts or scenarios.
• Tools for interactive activities (flip charts, markers, sticky notes, etc.).
• Handouts summarizing key concepts and techniques.
Homework/Follow-Up: • Encourage participants to identify and address signs of artificial harmony in their teams.
• Optional: Assign a short reflection paper on how they might apply these strategies in their work.
KEY DATES AND INFORMATION
Cost and Availability
- Cost $350/per person with a 10-person minimum/20-person maximum per class.
- Classes run 2 – 3 hours depending on content volume with 5-minute breaks every 40 minutes.
- Provide pre-reads and follow-up materials focused on use of the techniques taught in the class.
- If desired, an optional fee will be included to have multiple proctors to run breakout rooms to facilitate deeper dives into the content.
Schedule
For Group Workshops and Coaching please reach out to the ALLY Support Team here.
2025 Workshop Schedule * Dates subject to change
2025 Workshop Schedule * Dates subject to change
- Feb 13, 2025 – 12:00 – 3:00 PM
- May 8, 2025 – 12:00 – 3:00 PM
- Sept 8, 2025 – 12:00 – 3:00 PM
- Nov 10, 2025 – 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Enrollment Deadline
Workshop Date Enroll By Date
Feb 13, 2025 Jan 16, 2025
Feb 13, 2025 Jan 16, 2025
May 8, 2025 Apr 10, 2025
Sept 12, 2025 Aug 7, 2025
Nov 12, 2025 Oct 9, 2025
Pre work and assessments will be unlocked as soon as you are enrolled but you must have an ALLY ENERGY PROFILE validated to enroll.
Pre work and assessments will be unlocked as soon as you are enrolled but you must have an ALLY ENERGY PROFILE validated to enroll.
Lisa Jaster
Army Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Jaster is a soldier, an engineer, a wife and mother, and a trailblazer. Lisa is a Managing Consultant with ALLY Energy; she advises corporations on how to recruit, train, and retain talent within their teams.
Lisa graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point Academy with a BS in Civil Engineering and was commissioned as an active-duty engineering officer. In 2002, Lisa deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and then again in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on active duty, Lisa completed her master’s in civil engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2004.
After being stationed for two years in South Korea, she left the Active Army to work for Royal Dutch Shell for 12 years rejoining the Army as a reservist in 2012. From April to October 2015, Lisa took a six-month leave of absence and attended Army Ranger School, being one of three females that graduated from the first integrated Ranger School course.
In 2019, Lisa left Royal Dutch Shell to become the Director of Civil Engineering at M&S Engineering in Spring Branch, Texas. In August of 2022, Lisa chose to leave corporate America to follow her life’s ambition. She now works as an Executive Coach, Leadership Development Expert, and Keynote Speaker. In 2023, Lisa published her first manuscript. “Delete the Adjective: A Soldier’s Adventures in Ranger School,” which hit Amazon’s Best Seller’s List in two categories. She continues to serve in the US Army Reserve with over 17 years of military service. Lisa prides herself in working with clients to improve their effectiveness both in and outside of the office environment.
Patrick Jones - Course author
