CASE STUDY
Using Individual Strengths to Build a Stronger Team
Client Background
The client was a government team consisting of 30 staff members who had recently undergone significant changes, including a restructure that impacted team morale. Additionally, the team faced immense pressure to achieve substantial business targets. The senior leadership recognised the need for greater cohesion, leadership development, and team engagement to effectively respond to their high-demand and ever-changing work environment. Strengthening collaboration among the team leaders was also a key objective.
Challenge
The government team faced several challenges, including low team cohesion, diminished morale due to recent changes, and the need to achieve demanding business targets. To address these challenges, the team required a structured approach to improve leadership skills, foster collaboration, and boost engagement among team members. They sought solutions that would harness individual strengths and create a more cohesive and productive work environment.
Approach
Our approach involved working closely with the team leaders to gain a comprehensive understanding of the team’s issues and dynamics. To achieve this, Polaris designed a series of customised workshops tailored to address the specific challenges faced by the team.
Additionally, we conducted individual coaching sessions with selected team members to provide personalised support and guidance.
Using various psychometric tools, we conducted assessments to explore the team’s working styles and identified individual strengths. The focus was on creating a plan to leverage these strengths to align with team and organisational objectives. Furthermore, the workshops centered on enhancing leadership skills, building effective communication, fostering trust, and strengthening collaboration among team members.
Outcome
The implementation of our approach yielded positive outcomes for the government team:
- Adapted Work Approach: The team members embraced the customised workshops and coaching sessions, resulting in a transformation of the team’s work approach. They adopted new strategies and techniques to address challenges and achieve their business targets effectively.
- Improved Morale: As the team became more cohesive and engaged, morale significantly improved among the staff members. The positive work environment, along with a focus on individual strengths, contributed to increased job satisfaction and motivation.
- Enhanced Collaboration and Engagement: The emphasis on developing leadership skills and fostering trust within the team led to improved collaboration and engagement. Team members were more willing to collaborate, share ideas, and support one another, contributing to better overall performance.
In conclusion, by leveraging individual strengths and focusing on leadership development and collaboration, the government team successfully addressed their challenges and achieved positive outcomes. The team’s increased cohesion, improved morale, and enhanced engagement have enabled them to better navigate their high-demand work environment and achieve their organisational objectives effectively.
“The team was very knowledgeable in this area, really understood our needs and was able to suggest content, which meant our team were really engaged and contributed to the sessions. The workshops were engaging and ensured maximum participation. The impact of the workshops was felt immediately. Their sensitive and timely inputs allowed staff the opportunity to discuss the changes we had been through and how we might move forward. I would unreservedly recommend the team.”
UK Diplomat
