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When an established manufacturer faced bottlenecks in production, Zenith Labs assessed team dynamics and workflows, implementing solutions that improved efficiency by 40%.
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Through the OBSESS framework, UNICEF and Zenith Labs transformed training from a one-way directive into a living, interactive support system that empowered, connected, and emotionally restored leaders on the frontlines.
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The OBSESS framework
Here’s how they applied each
step of the OBSESS
framework to bring their values to life:
Observe
Working closely with Zenith Labs, UNICEF first assessed the challenges faced by their field leaders in crisis zones. They observed the gaps in training and support that often left these leaders feeling isolated and unprepared. Through in-depth interviews and observations, they recognized the need for real, actionable guidance and emotional support to help leaders navigate high-stress situations in real time.
Benchmark
UNICEF, guided by Zenith Labs, analyzed best practices in leadership training and storytelling within global humanitarian organizations. They identified that many organizations saw success in using narrative and experiential learning to transfer wisdom and guidance across regions. This benchmarking revealed a valuable opportunity: sharing real-life stories from experienced leaders could prepare frontline staff in ways traditional training could not.
Strategize
With input from Zenith Labs and senior UNICEF leaders, they designed a strategy to compile, record, and share stories of past crisis responses. These stories would serve as educational tools and sources of emotional resilience, helping leaders on the ground feel both equipped and connected. They created a plan to gather stories in multimedia formats—written, audio, and video—so that field staff could access them in ways that were practical, even while traveling or working in remote areas.
Scale
UNICEF, with Zenith Labs’ guidance, rolled out a step-by-step content creation and distribution plan. They recorded senior leaders’ firsthand accounts of navigating crises, managing conflict, and rebuilding communities. This content was then shared on a digital platform accessible to all field leaders. To ensure ease of access, UNICEF made the platform mobile-friendly and lightweight, allowing leaders to listen or read stories even in low-bandwidth areas.
Execute
Starting with a pilot in a few regions, UNICEF tested the impact of these stories on frontline staff. Feedback showed that these real-world examples provided invaluable insights, practical solutions, and emotional reassurance. With Zenith Labs’ support, they refined the content based on feedback and scaled the initiative globally, embedding the platform into the onboarding and ongoing support process for field leaders.
Sustain
To make this storytelling initiative an enduring resource, UNICEF created a continuous feedback loop. Field leaders were encouraged to share new stories as they gained their own experiences, creating a dynamic library of learning and support. Senior leaders and Zenith Labs provided ongoing mentorship, ensuring that the platform remained relevant, impactful, and a central part of UNICEF’s crisis response training.
Outcomes of our framework
This is how our OBSESS framework helped them with some
amazing outcomes
Equipped with practical stories of crisis management, field leaders gained actionable insights that helped them respond effectively to local challenges. They felt prepared and confident, knowing they could lean on the experiences of others who had faced similar situations.
By accessing stories from senior leaders, frontline staff felt more connected to UNICEF’s mission and to the leaders guiding them. This connection fostered trust and opened up communication channels, allowing leaders on the ground to feel supported, even from afar.
Having access to stories of perseverance and success allowed field leaders to emotionally recharge as they moved from one crisis zone to another. This library of shared experiences served as an emotional lifeline, helping them manage the psychological toll of their work and providing a sense of solidarity and encouragement in challenging times.
