Literally 'Burying the Hatchet'

Relations between the two departments had deteriorated badly over the years.

One was a government agency, the other from the private sector. The culture of these two 'partners' could not be more different.

In a team-building workshops, top managers of both parties have decided to 'bury the hatchet'.

They bought a large ax back to the hardware store in town. On the one hand, the government agency wrote their festering complaints. On the other hand, the private sector group wrote their protest, groans and growls.

After agreeing to work more positively for the future, both sides held a ceremony on the lawn. With the photographers present, they dug a deep hole and literally 'buried the hatchet'. This symbolic ritual sends a strong and positive signal that the past was past. Both sides have taken responsibility for the future.

Can you see these two teams standing next to a pile of fresh dirt? Can you feel their commitment to start from scratch? Can you feel an obligation as they walked away from a hole in the ground ceremony?

Key Learning Point

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To overcome old wounds, you may need to work on a symbolic level.

Action Steps

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Think about where collaboration could be improved. Find a common phrase that captures the solution: `bury the hatchet ',` patch things up', `water under the bridge '. Perform a ritual ceremony or ritual that engages everyone in a gesture of healing and new work .......