We at GlobalDenmark are currently involved in an internal development programme that aims at generating new business scenarios for the next 5-10 years. The process facilitator is Claus Bjørnelund, who is a skilled coach and also a member of our Board. In this project, Claus uses Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as the basis for liberating us from operational constraints and unproductive scepticism. This has been a great challenge, even if – or because – it builds on what really works now rather than what doesn’t.
At one stage, we were invited to “dream”: how do we ideally see the company in five years’ time? There wasn’t much dreaming there: We were all so realistic and terribly sensible. Our dreams were inhibited by our current reality, expressed in a sense of profound loyalty and commitment. Whereas that in itself was gratifying, the dreaming was no “giant leap” forward.
Claus Bjørnelund then invited members of the network with the wonderful name “Passende Forstyrrelser” (“Appropriate Disturbances”) to join us for a “fish bowl” exercise. After a short introduction to our history, activities, self-perception etc., our guests sat in a circle and “dreamed” on our behalf. We were only to listen to a 40-minute conversation. We heard what kind of company GlobalDenmark might be in five years. Ideas, projects and possibilities were brought up in ways that were new to us, and yet possible for us to identify with.
Our guests, obviously trained in the tough discipline of uninhibited, yet tangible and productive conversation, were a marvellous experience. “Wow, is that really our company? I would love to work there,” one of our colleagues blurted out. Our guests’ generous, sharp-witted and insightful contribution to our internal development project was a moment for us to cherish.
GlobalDenmark 
As one of the guests I would like to share my thoughts. It is incredible refreshing to experience a company that dares to open up for their strategic processes to “strangers”, daring to show the most sensitive inner thoughts and workings, just to receive inputs to work with, to better themselves and to strengthen the business.
The network “Passende Forstyrrelser” lept on the chance to participate, not because we knew the company or its employee’s well, but simply because we were invited to share our diverse knowledge and experiences (personal and work-related). None of us have in fact the same backgrounds or work experience which gives a broad and comprehensive approach on the input we gave.
It is truly a great thing to be allowed into the middle of a company willing to risk exposing themselves and sharing potential strengths or weaknesses just to get a fresh eyes and input from people with a decidedly different and diverse background compared to that of the employees!
This is of course the reason behind many organizations invites consultants inside to help them with their strategy. But more often than not what really happens is that the consultants are all similarly educated and have roughly the same background which does not give all that diverse nor holistic view on the challenges.
Thank you for the great chance to get to know your company better and to share what we each feel could be done!
Lars Holsøe Rasmussen