Grantus Blog - How car rides can drive better teamwork

How car rides can drive better teamwork

The Road to Collaboration

In our line of work, regional visioning workshops often bring together diverse stakeholders and a wide range of opinions, but the project scope is sometimes broader and more ambiguous than we’d like. For almost a year, my consulting team and I have partnered to run 5-6 workshops to shape a regional vision for the next 30 years. Each month, our four-hour car trip to these sessions has become a vital part of our process, allowing us to brainstorm, challenge, and refine our ideas. In this space, far from the usual distractions, our team truly aligns before facing our clients. This collaborative road trip has become key to our successful workshops.

The challenge of ambiguity and uncertainty in teams and projects

Projects centred on ‘regional visioning’ often grapple with ambiguity, where diverse stakeholders bring conflicting ideas, and the path to alignment can feel like a moving target. In our case, the task was to create a shared investment framework and roadmap for the region’s future, no small feat. With a loosely defined scope, the risk of losing focus, eroding trust, or ending up in endless talks without meaningful action was very real. Regional councils, water corporations, and government bodies can’t afford such outcomes. They need clear, actionable steps that build confidence and lead to tangible results.

“Are you giving enough room for debate?
Are you open to having your ideas challenged?”

Proper teamwork and trust to challenge perspectives

Over these road trips, we’ve transformed our travel time into a high-value planning session. In contrast to the often fragmented nature of online meetings, our car rides give us uninterrupted hours to prepare every detail for the following day’s workshop. While one person might ‘take the wheel’ (both literally and figuratively), the journey is truly collaborative. Moving through the regional landscapes sparks dynamic conversations, where robust challenges flow freely—something that’s difficult to replicate in Teams calls. About 90% of the time, we challenge one another’s views, but the 10% we agree on becomes the bedrock of a strong, outcome-driven agenda.

Lessons teams can learn about role fluidity and healthy conflict

In any organisation, it’s easy for team members to fall into familiar roles, often letting the ‘lead’ drive most decisions. However, in our experience, real progress is made when everyone steps up, challenges the direction, and refines the outcome. In our team, I tend to take the helicopter view, which sometimes means I lose sight of the immediate details. My colleagues help ground me, making sure the final plan is not only visionary but actionable. When diverse viewpoints come together—when everyone, regardless of role, feels free to contribute—you create a more resilient and robust outcome.

Key Takeaways

  • Constructive conflict enhances results: Healthy debate and pushback are essential for robust, inclusive solutions. Encourage open and respectful disagreement.
  • In-person collaboration offers unique benefits: While remote meetings are efficient, in-person planning sessions provide the deep collaboration and focus that can elevate outcomes.
  • Flexible roles foster stronger outcomes: Allowing team members to step out of their usual roles builds trust and shared responsibility for success.
  • Give team members ownership of their input: When individuals are accountable for their contributions and know they’ll need to present them, they become more invested in the team’s success.

These car trips have shown me that great results don’t come from a group of ‘yes-men,’ but from a team willing to challenge each other, refining ideas until the best path forward is clear. As you work with your own teams, ask yourself: are you giving enough room for debate? Are you open to having your ideas challenged? The road to great outcomes, like our car trips, requires both direction and detours.

Simon Coutts - CEO of Grantus

Simon Coutts

Simon is the CEO and Founder of Grantus, a trusted advisor in strategic funding, complex problem solving, and stakeholder management, driving growth and public benefit for organisations dedicated to making a lasting impact. Book a ‘Borrow My Brain‘ session with Simon.

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