Working on an island might sound like paradise, but in many organizations, it can feel like the exact opposite.
A few years ago, I was brought in to help a senior living organization elevate its resident/customer experience. It had four departments, and three of the department heads told me the same thing about the fourth:
“I wish that department would get off their island and be a team player. It’s hard to deliver great service when they’re doing their own thing.”
Turns out, they weren’t wrong. Here’s what I discovered about the "island" department:
So I sat down with the department and painted a picture:
“The rest of the organization sees you working alone on your own island. If we’re going to deliver the experience our clients deserve, you need to leave the island.”
There are two paths:
1. Get in the boats I’m providing—we’ll row together. The waters may be rough, but we’ll make it as a team.
2. Swim alone. It’s possible, but no one will be there to help when the waves hit.
The breakthrough? Almost all of them climbed into the boat.
From there, real transformation took root:
If your workplace feels like a collection of isolated islands, consider this:
What’s it like in your organization? Paradise isn’t about palm trees or sunsets—it’s about people pulling together toward something meaningful.
-Bob Pacanovsky