The model will work – but the story won’t!

🌳 I often use an apple tree to explain my adaptation of David Clutterbuck's PERILL model, with the addition of team wellbeing and resilience. The metaphor of leadership as the roots, relationships as the trunk, and team processes as the canopy etc, helps teams quickly grasp how the different elements of a High Performing Team interact and support one another.

I've been preparing to work with a team in the construction sector this week. I pulled out the apple tree ... and put it away again. I don't think it will land.

🏚️ So, the story’s been switched – to a house.

The foundations represent leadership. Relationships and internal processes sit within the house itself. The roof represents purpose, providing direction and shelter. Scaffolding represents learning and development – critical support for growth. A delivery truck represents value delivered to customers and stakeholders. Wellbeing and resilience help the house withstand storms that come along.

💡 While models and tools can be powerful, they're rarely one-size-fits-all. Sometimes the difference between engagement and indifference is finding a metaphor that feels familiar and relevant to the people in the room.

⁉️ Creative adaptation is what brings coaching to life.

If you’d like to hear more about apple trees, or buildings and delivery trucks, or High Performing Teamwork, get in touch. We’ll find a metaphor that works for your team.