Air Liquide
“The challenges people were struggling with surfaced more clearly, both on a personal and professional level. This created a stronger sense of connection and a deeper understanding of one another. That shared experience still contributes to the collegiality and mutual understanding we value today.”
Philippe Engels
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Industrial Affairs Manager at Air Liquide Benelux Industries
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Air Liquide has been part of Philippe’s professional life for over 30 years. Today, he is a member of the Public Affairs and Funding Team, a close-knit group of nine colleagues active across the Benelux region.
The team recently went through several changes. Three new members joined, while colleagues continued working from different locations. The dynamics shifted. Distance increased.
This created a clear need to bring the team together with intention. Not just for connection, but to strengthen collaboration and truly get to know each other beyond roles and geography.
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The team is diverse in cultural background and professional experience. That diversity brings strength, but at times also friction in communication and collaboration.
At the same time, external factors play a role. Air Liquide is a large organization with a strong social culture. Yet shifting economic conditions and new challenges inevitably influence the internal dynamic. Culture does not operate in isolation. It responds to pressure. And that pressure impacts how teams collaborate, adapt and deal with change.
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To strengthen collaboration within the team, a deliberate choice was made for a team-building workshop. Two years ago, the team invested in an ‘Insights Discovery Workshop’.
Last year, they chose Amazing Cultures and discovered the Flower method. The Insights Workshop helped team members understand their behavioral preferences through color profiles. The Flower method went deeper, uncovering individual drivers and underlying motivations. This sequence matched the team’s needs precisely, moving from awareness of behavior to insight into what truly drives it.
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The workshop was facilitated by Tim from Amazing Cultures. His close involvement and use of concrete examples created psychological safety and encouraged open dialogue. This fostered an atmosphere of trust in which team members felt comfortable sharing both personal and professional challenges. The combination of methodologies offered both an analytical and emotional lens on collaboration, leading to deeper understanding and stronger connection within the team.
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The workshop was received very positively. Team members indicated that they felt heard and supported, which resulted in open and constructive dialogue. The interaction strengthened mutual understanding and reinforced relationships within the team.
Participants noted that the session helped them address both personal and professional challenges in a structured and respectful way. Philippe and the team are therefore considering organizing a similar session in the future to further strengthen growth and collaboration.