Improving Collaboration Styles and Inclusive Leadership

"Reigniting my leadership meant unlocking my team's full potential."

Priya, 42, Senior Product Manager

Priya, a Director of Product Development at a tech firm, faced subtle gender biases in a male-dominated industry—her assertive decisions were often labelled "aggressive," while similar behaviour from male peers was praised as "decisive." This double standard led her to adopt a directive leadership style, which created friction within her diverse team of 12 engineers, designers, and analysts across multiple product lines. Quieter team members, particularly women and junior staff, felt hesitant to share ideas, and Priya knew her team's innovation—and the company's product outcomes—were suffering.

Journey with Architecting Collaboration
Priya turned to Architecting Collaboration's "Reignite" program to address these issues. Using the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the process began with a deep dive into her leadership context through guided reflection. The facilitator encouraged Priya to explore not just her team's dynamics but also her own experiences as a woman leader. A pivotal moment came during the creation of SSM rich pictures—a visual mapping exercise where Priya drew her team's interactions, relationships, and power dynamics.

In her rich picture, Priya illustrated herself as a lone figure at the top, with arrows pointing downward to her team, reflecting her directive style. She also sketched storm clouds labelled "gender bias" and "unspoken tensions," symbolizing the external pressures and internal team friction. Through this exercise, she realized how her efforts to assert authority, shaped by the need to counter gender stereotypes, were inadvertently silencing quieter voices. The rich picture also revealed a lack of connection between team members, with some figures (representing women and junior staff) appearing isolated, their ideas floating unacknowledged.

This visual representation was a revelation for Priya. It allowed her to see the world through her team's eyes and recognize the systemic barriers—both her own and those within the team—that were stifling collaboration. With the facilitator's guidance, Priya used stakeholder mapping to identify key influencers and allies within her team who could help bridge communication gaps. She also explored her own biases, realizing she had unconsciously favoured more vocal team members, often men, because their confidence mirrored the leadership traits she felt pressured to emulate.

Armed with these insights, Priya worked with Architecting Collaboration to redesign her team's interactions. She implemented inclusive meeting structures, such as round-robin brainstorming sessions to ensure everyone had a chance to speak, and introduced active listening techniques, like paraphrasing and summarizing contributions to validate quieter voices. She also held one-on-one check-ins with her team, creating a safe space for women and junior staff to share feedback. To address gender bias at a broader level, Priya advocated for unconscious bias training within her organization, using her journey as a case study to inspire change.

Outcome
The impact was transformative. Post-session surveys showed a 30% increase in team engagement, with previously quiet members now actively contributing ideas that led to a new product feature. Priya's team became a model of collaboration within the firm, earning her recognition from senior leadership for fostering an inclusive culture. More importantly, Priya's confidence as a leader soared—she no longer felt the need to conform to outdated stereotypes of leadership. She embraced vulnerability, openly sharing her journey with her team, which deepened their trust in her. The SSM rich pictures remained a touchstone for Priya, a reminder of how seeing the world differently could unlock potential, not just in her team, but in herself as a woman leader breaking barriers in tech.

About SSM

 Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a powerful approach that uses visual tools like rich pictures to map complex relationships and uncover hidden dynamics. It helps leaders, like Priya, reframe challenges and design inclusive solutions tailored to their unique contexts.

About the Author

Paul Nunesdea is the English pen name of Paulo Nunes de Abreu, an IAF Certified™ Facilitator, Master of Ceremonies, author, and publisher of the Architecting Collaboration book series. He designs and facilitates high-impact events for corporations, public institutions, and civic organisations across Europe and beyond.

As the curator of Architecting Collaboration, Paul writes about the intersection of collaboration, facilitation, and digital transformation, drawing from decades of practical experience and system thinking. He is also the co-founder of Debate Exímio, which serves as a hub for innovation in meeting design and participatory processes.

In the health data space, Paul leads the Health Data Forum, a UK-registered charity advancing ethical AI adoption and digital health transformation. He spearheads the Data First, AI Later movement and manages a curated network of independent consultants specialising in health data governance and AI strategy.