How do I handle a key department head who refuses to participate in offsite vulnerability or team-building exercises, claiming it is a waste of time?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

You cannot force someone to be vulnerable, but you can make it clear that team health is a non-negotiable operational metric. A leader who refuses to participate in building trust is creating a barrier to your team's success and your eventual exit.

Start by having a direct, one-on-one conversation before the offsite. Use the framework from Kathy Kolbe and Charles Green to explain that trust requires taking personal risks. When they shut down during team exercises, they are sending a message that they do not trust the team or do not want to be trusted.

Explain that team-building exercises are not touchy-feely distractions; they are designed to reduce status management behaviors that slow down decision-making. These behaviors include hesitation, political posturing, and subtle competition.

If they still resist during the session, let them observe initially, but do not let them derail the group's progress. Use the IDS® process during the offsite to discuss team health as a core business issue.

If their resistance is a recurring pattern, evaluate them on your Accountability Chart under GWC™. If they do not want to participate in the culture of a highly aligned leadership team, they do not belong in that seat.