Rebuilding Trust, Strengthening Teams
Designing a paced, relational process that helped a team surface tension, rebuild connection and create practical commitments for how it wanted to work together.
Interval House of Ottawa (IHO) provides safe shelter and support for women and children fleeing violence.
With a dedicated team and deep commitment to justice and care, IHO plays a vital role in supporting survivors and advocating for systemic change across the region.
The Challenge
Leadership transitions, structural change and the long tail of the pandemic left staff with differing experiences of communication, fairness and accountability. Rather than treating these as isolated issues, IHO invested in a process to understand the patterns underneath them.
How We Worked
- Used one-to-one and small-group listening to surface themes safely.
- Facilitated team conversations on values, norms, communication and shared responsibility.
- Held a full-day retreat for reflection, visioning and staff-generated commitments.
- Delivered tailored communication training and shared language for direct, respectful dialogue.
What Changed
- Renewed shared purpose and care within the team.
- Created space for courageous dialogue about trust, fairness and accountability.
- Developed staff-owned commitments and practical next steps for stronger collaboration.
Client Feedback
We appreciated the pace of the work and her gentle and non-judgmental approach.
“We appreciated the pace of the work and her gentle and non-judgmental approach. We engaged Manal’s support at a time of transition within our organization. Manal’s approach was appreciated by all of us – the sessions felt nurturing and exactly what the team needed. The online sessions were extremely engaging and accessible, and the slower pace helped the group piece together insights over time—almost like putting together a puzzle and finally seeing the full picture. Thanks so much Manal and Team!”
Keri Lewis, Executive Director
Interval House of Ottawa