From Five Branches to Shared Priorities
Helping a complex national organization move from competing operational pressures toward a common set of priorities, accountabilities and next steps.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) is a pivotal organization dedicated to upholding human rights in Canada.
CHRC operates through five specialized branches: Governor in Council Appointees, Executive Office, Complaints Services Branch, Corporate Management Branch, and Proactive Compliance Branch. Each branch contributes unique expertise towards promoting and protecting human rights in Canada, working in tandem to uphold the CHRC’s mission.
The Challenge
CHRC’s five branches held distinct mandates, constraints and priorities. The planning challenge was to create a unified direction without erasing those differences – and to convert discussion into realistic operational choices within limited resources.
How We Worked
- Conducted confidential pre-session interviews to surface expectations and tensions.
- Used strategic reflection and visioning to create a common frame for the work.
- Facilitated prioritization exercises across branches and functions.
- Integrated risk thinking, innovation and explicit accountability into the planning process.
What Changed
- Established a clearer, shared set of priorities.
- Improved cross-team collaboration and strategic clarity.
- Concluded with concrete actions, owners and timelines for implementation.
Client Feedback
Manal is a true professional and I would welcome the chance to work with her again!
“Manal is a true professional and I would welcome the chance to work with her again! I had the pleasure of working with Manal on a complex organization-wide planning exercise. Manal brought a human-centred approach to the process that began with understanding the perspectives of the participants. Through preliminary discussions with every member of the team, Manal quickly established trust and identified where people’s views aligned and where opinions differed. Manal’s approach is centered in honesty, respect, empathy, and compassion. Manal facilitated our plenary discussions with a balance of structure and flexibility – easily adapting to the needs of the moment, giving people space to express their opinions, while remaining focused on our overarching objectives and schedule.”
Jeff Meldrum, Acting Director General
Strategic Policy and Communications Branch
Canadian Human Rights Commission