23 January 2025

“Putting the Team Back Together” – Using A Tailored Approach to Rebuild a Disconnected Team

This case study highlights the power of tailored team development strategies in reshaping dysfunctional teams into thriving, collaborative groups with lasting organisational impact.

The Challenge:

A values-driven Health and Care organisation faced significant challenges within a key team critical to service delivery. Conflict, poor communication, and a lack of cohesion plagued the team, exacerbated by recent organisational turnover and constant change. Misunderstandings and diminished trust created a toxic environment where collaboration suffered, and objectives were frequently missed. Senior managers observed the deteriorating performance and its ripple effects on service delivery and the broader organisation. They identified rising tensions and the negative impact on individuals, prompting them to engage Insightful Exchange to rebuild, reconnect, and improve team effectiveness and morale.

The Intervention:

Our first step was to engage the senior leadership team to contextualise the team’s challenges and develop a diagnostic process to uncover core issues:

  • Communication breakdowns creating inefficiencies and misunderstandings.
  • Eroded trust preventing open dialogue and collaboration.
  • Unclear purpose leading to confusion and misalignment.
  • Lack of psychological safety fostering an unhealthy work environment.

These challenges created a culture of negativity, leaving the team disconnected and at risk of implosion.

Addressing the Challenge:

Our approach balanced individual and team needs. We began with one-on-one conversations to understand each member’s experiences, challenges, and motivations. These insights informed the design of interventions to foster understanding and trust.

  • Using MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) as a framework, we facilitated workshops to help team members explore their personality preferences and communication styles. This created mutual awareness and respect, paving the way for more effective interaction.
  • Following the workshops, team coaching sessions provided a safe space for open dialogue, enabling members to collaboratively address specific challenges. These sessions emphasised aligning on a shared purpose and fostering accountability.

The Outcome:

The combination of individual discovery, MBTI workshops, and team coaching achieved transformational results:

  1. Improved Communication: Team members adapted their styles based on MBTI insights, leading to more respectful, impactful interactions and reducing misunderstandings.
  2. Restored Trust and Psychological Safety: Through coaching and open dialogue, trust was rebuilt, and members felt safe to share ideas, feedback, and challenges without fear of negative repercussions.
  3. Clear Purpose and Objectives: The team aligned on collective goals and deliverables, fostering accountability and enabling focused efforts toward shared success.
  4. Stronger Cohesion: Leveraging individual strengths, the team addressed conflicts constructively, improved morale, and achieved greater synergy.
  5. Tangible Cultural Change: Senior leaders observed significant improvements in team dynamics and performance. Enhanced collaboration and reduced negativity positively impacted service delivery.

Conclusion:

The combination of individual insights, MBTI workshops, and team coaching transformed the team into a cohesive, high-performing unit. Trust, communication, and alignment on purpose enabled the team to overcome challenges and deliver meaningful results.

If your organisation is facing challenges with team dynamics or struggling to rebuild trust and cohesion, contact us to discover how tailored team development strategies can transform dysfunctional teams into thriving, collaborative groups that drive lasting organisational success.