Constellations for Business:
Are you looking for a new way to find out what is going on in your business. Do you want some clarity about how to move forward, without a whole load of long explanations?
Are you looking for results?
Constellations get to the truth quickly and efficiently. They bring clarity. You may not like what you see, but you will see what is really going on - and that insight will make any future decisions, much easier to make.
Watching a constellation can be a bit like watching a play unfolding in front of you - about you or your business or organisation. And yet, through what you see, you obtain clarity and truths about what is going on.
Case studies:
1. Client A had been working with a business coach and the business was in difficulty. Wrongful allegations had been made and legal proceedings initiated against the business owner. He was due in court the following week and was afraid that the outcome looked bleak. His coach urged him to do a constellations as there was something about the legal battle that showed up as a familiar pattern.
A constellation was set up for the client, where it was shown that a few generations earlier, an ancestor had had to leave their home country because of threats to his business from others. This was dealt with in the constellation and the client went home, somewhat emotional and surprised by what he had seen. When he went to court, the judge accused the apellant of wasting everyone's time and through the case out of court. I spoke to Client A recently who told me that the constellation had left him a different person. In the past when someone made accusations against him, or attempted to dominate him in some way, he reacted in a way of trying to appease the agressor and minimise or soften any problems that might arise from the other person's agressive behaviour. After the constellation he immediately had more confidence in himself, and when someone attempted to dominate or bully or get authority over him, he was able to step back and consciously decide how to react. He could plan and execute a strategic response rather than "fawn".
He also commented that although the constellation appeared to have little to do with the presenting problem, everything about it made sense. He went off and double checked with family members all of whom concurred with the story that arose. The main benefit that arose however from the constellation was his new found ability to react to agressors from a different more detached and calm place. Obviously enabling better outcomes for himself - and an easier life.
2. Client B wanted to expand their consultancy business. We came together with representatives and “tested” their prospective markets. The different markets were mapped out and then representatives stood in their place. It became clear from the representatives where people could trust the business, and where people were not really interested. The exercise showed some of the proposed markets, did not take the consultancy seriously and although working with them would bring in money, without genuine commitment from the clients, the purpose driven consultancy would feel used and that their work was worthwhile.
Two other market sectors were set up and it the person representing the consultancy quickly became confused and overwhelmed. It was clear that although the organisation had considerable experience already in that field, personal entanglements with leaders in that sector would make it challenging to create success in that arena.
Trialling the different market sectors, swiftly demonstrated which sectors would be the easiest for this particular organisation to engage with.
3. Small business / NGO:
I was brought in to do a piece of work with a Community Interest Company. They had done some heart driven work but were floundering with too many different projects on the go. Most were not coming to fruition & a lot of time and energy was taken up on workstreams which came to nothing. Often the rug was pulled on projects by someone from external organisations or partners.There was a frustration in the organisation and lack of clarity about how to move forward.
We came together for a constellation where it became clear the organisation had delivered on it’s primary purpose, - the reason for which it had been set up. Employees wanted to build on that, but had lost their vision. The constellation helped the group to re-set their vision, and establish the value of some of the projects which were failing and which ones to drop. Subsequently the organisation has doubled in size, become a known & reputable leader in one of it’s delivery fields and takes more targeted action to successfully deliver on some of it’s goals.
“When you suggested we did a constellation Liz, I was sceptical and reluctantly came along as I did not think I could spare the time. What transpired surprised me at how helpful it was. I got much clearer about our strategy and purpose so I could see the useful directions to focus our energy and which things we were doing which were a waste of time.. I am really glad we did this and would like to do it again.” C Rowland, MD
4. Small Business: A client came to me who wanted to sell her business and do something else instead. It had been up for sale for a couple of years and failed to find interested buyers. We set up the constellation nd realised she had "fallen out of love" with her business, the staff were unhappy and clients not very enthusiastic. The prospective buyer was disinterested as he could see there were problems.
We sourced the origin of her issues with the business - the government's mismanagement of Covid and it's impact on SMEs. The client had forgotten about all of this, although she had projected her rage onto her business. As she re-directed her rage back to where it belonged, the "business" started to relax, and feel much better disposed towards the owner.
The person who represented the business says: "
“ I felt like something created from love and enthusiasm, and once she directed her frustration and rage back to where it belonged - the govt and failed Covid policies, our original positive connection was restored. Feeling cared about made me feel attractive and optimistic about the future and that made me attractive to the prospective buyers.”
At this point the person representing prospective buyers looked much more interested and moved closer. Also, the person representing the alternative future woke up, and the representative for the business owner was able to say a warm and appreciative goodbye to her business, who were likewise both appreciative and interested and engaged with the prospective buyer.
5. A small educational business: Newly set up and the MD was beginning to have conflict with one of her senior staff. It became clear in the constellation that there were some personal, unspoken issues of rivalry between the MD and the senior staff member. In fact it became very clear that the staff member intended to take everything she could from the organisation for herself. The MD/ business owner, had been unable to fully see this intention in her staff member and had been almost gaslighting herself with her pressure on herself only to see the good in this staff member. We attended to this and things relaxed.
It then also became apparent that there were some governance issues within the organisation. Again, - it was a heart-oriented business, and so the MD/ Owner had set up a board, consisting of friends and people who professed to care about her. It became clear, again that their lack of expertise and feelings about their relationship with the MD/owner, were going to impact on the good and successful governance of the organisation. The owner was recommended to review her board and include some people with interest in the values and goals of the organsiation, but who would get something different than love from their participation. Maybe some additional experience, maybe some “giving back” and maybe learning more about that particular industry sector.
A representative for a rival business was brought in, and one of the representatives for a staff member wanted to jump ship. The MD was so wrapped up in her friends in senior management and the board, that it was clear to the staff member that clear open and honest feedback about the job or her position, may not be easily achieved. So the staff member jumped ship. The real business owner was immediately able to identify the staff in question. The staff member later reported back that she would have wanted to stay had she been able to trust that professional boundaries would have been upheld. But the involvement of so many family and friends made it difficult to stay.
Are you looking for a new way to find out what is going on in your business. Do you want some clarity about how to move forward, without a whole load of long explanations?
Are you looking for results?
Constellations get to the truth quickly and efficiently. They bring clarity. You may not like what you see, but you will see what is really going on - and that insight will make any future decisions, much easier to make.
Watching a constellation can be a bit like watching a play unfolding in front of you - about you or your business or organisation. And yet, through what you see, you obtain clarity and truths about what is going on.
Case studies:
1. Client A had been working with a business coach and the business was in difficulty. Wrongful allegations had been made and legal proceedings initiated against the business owner. He was due in court the following week and was afraid that the outcome looked bleak. His coach urged him to do a constellations as there was something about the legal battle that showed up as a familiar pattern.
A constellation was set up for the client, where it was shown that a few generations earlier, an ancestor had had to leave their home country because of threats to his business from others. This was dealt with in the constellation and the client went home, somewhat emotional and surprised by what he had seen. When he went to court, the judge accused the apellant of wasting everyone's time and through the case out of court. I spoke to Client A recently who told me that the constellation had left him a different person. In the past when someone made accusations against him, or attempted to dominate him in some way, he reacted in a way of trying to appease the agressor and minimise or soften any problems that might arise from the other person's agressive behaviour. After the constellation he immediately had more confidence in himself, and when someone attempted to dominate or bully or get authority over him, he was able to step back and consciously decide how to react. He could plan and execute a strategic response rather than "fawn".
He also commented that although the constellation appeared to have little to do with the presenting problem, everything about it made sense. He went off and double checked with family members all of whom concurred with the story that arose. The main benefit that arose however from the constellation was his new found ability to react to agressors from a different more detached and calm place. Obviously enabling better outcomes for himself - and an easier life.
2. Client B wanted to expand their consultancy business. We came together with representatives and “tested” their prospective markets. The different markets were mapped out and then representatives stood in their place. It became clear from the representatives where people could trust the business, and where people were not really interested. The exercise showed some of the proposed markets, did not take the consultancy seriously and although working with them would bring in money, without genuine commitment from the clients, the purpose driven consultancy would feel used and that their work was worthwhile.
Two other market sectors were set up and it the person representing the consultancy quickly became confused and overwhelmed. It was clear that although the organisation had considerable experience already in that field, personal entanglements with leaders in that sector would make it challenging to create success in that arena.
Trialling the different market sectors, swiftly demonstrated which sectors would be the easiest for this particular organisation to engage with.
3. Small business / NGO:
I was brought in to do a piece of work with a Community Interest Company. They had done some heart driven work but were floundering with too many different projects on the go. Most were not coming to fruition & a lot of time and energy was taken up on workstreams which came to nothing. Often the rug was pulled on projects by someone from external organisations or partners.There was a frustration in the organisation and lack of clarity about how to move forward.
We came together for a constellation where it became clear the organisation had delivered on it’s primary purpose, - the reason for which it had been set up. Employees wanted to build on that, but had lost their vision. The constellation helped the group to re-set their vision, and establish the value of some of the projects which were failing and which ones to drop. Subsequently the organisation has doubled in size, become a known & reputable leader in one of it’s delivery fields and takes more targeted action to successfully deliver on some of it’s goals.
“When you suggested we did a constellation Liz, I was sceptical and reluctantly came along as I did not think I could spare the time. What transpired surprised me at how helpful it was. I got much clearer about our strategy and purpose so I could see the useful directions to focus our energy and which things we were doing which were a waste of time.. I am really glad we did this and would like to do it again.” C Rowland, MD
4. Small Business: A client came to me who wanted to sell her business and do something else instead. It had been up for sale for a couple of years and failed to find interested buyers. We set up the constellation nd realised she had "fallen out of love" with her business, the staff were unhappy and clients not very enthusiastic. The prospective buyer was disinterested as he could see there were problems.
We sourced the origin of her issues with the business - the government's mismanagement of Covid and it's impact on SMEs. The client had forgotten about all of this, although she had projected her rage onto her business. As she re-directed her rage back to where it belonged, the "business" started to relax, and feel much better disposed towards the owner.
The person who represented the business says: "
“ I felt like something created from love and enthusiasm, and once she directed her frustration and rage back to where it belonged - the govt and failed Covid policies, our original positive connection was restored. Feeling cared about made me feel attractive and optimistic about the future and that made me attractive to the prospective buyers.”
At this point the person representing prospective buyers looked much more interested and moved closer. Also, the person representing the alternative future woke up, and the representative for the business owner was able to say a warm and appreciative goodbye to her business, who were likewise both appreciative and interested and engaged with the prospective buyer.
5. A small educational business: Newly set up and the MD was beginning to have conflict with one of her senior staff. It became clear in the constellation that there were some personal, unspoken issues of rivalry between the MD and the senior staff member. In fact it became very clear that the staff member intended to take everything she could from the organisation for herself. The MD/ business owner, had been unable to fully see this intention in her staff member and had been almost gaslighting herself with her pressure on herself only to see the good in this staff member. We attended to this and things relaxed.
It then also became apparent that there were some governance issues within the organisation. Again, - it was a heart-oriented business, and so the MD/ Owner had set up a board, consisting of friends and people who professed to care about her. It became clear, again that their lack of expertise and feelings about their relationship with the MD/owner, were going to impact on the good and successful governance of the organisation. The owner was recommended to review her board and include some people with interest in the values and goals of the organsiation, but who would get something different than love from their participation. Maybe some additional experience, maybe some “giving back” and maybe learning more about that particular industry sector.
A representative for a rival business was brought in, and one of the representatives for a staff member wanted to jump ship. The MD was so wrapped up in her friends in senior management and the board, that it was clear to the staff member that clear open and honest feedback about the job or her position, may not be easily achieved. So the staff member jumped ship. The real business owner was immediately able to identify the staff in question. The staff member later reported back that she would have wanted to stay had she been able to trust that professional boundaries would have been upheld. But the involvement of so many family and friends made it difficult to stay.