Team | Developing a world class team

Client

Managing Director and trackside team in an organisation at the leading edge of motorsport.

Focus

The MD was keen to maximise the team’s competitive advantage in the run up to the new race season.   For him this meant looking beyond the technical challenge of delivering a winning car and developing a trackside team aligned around a shared objective with a common language and a world class set of behaviours.  He requested facilitation and coaching to support a fast-track boost in team functioning and performance.

Formulation

Diagnostic work which included interviews with team members, key stakeholders and a bespoke Team 360° questionnaire revealed that:

• The team contained some of the sharpest minds in the industry. However, they tended to work as two separate sub teams focused on their own agenda and objectives
• There was a lack of trust and communication between the key players – exacerbated by the relentless schedule and intense pressure under which they worked
• Roles, accountabilities and behavioural competencies were not clearly defined
• There were issues around performance management, succession planning and career development

Intervention

Our approach was designed to deliver rapid and sustained results over a 6 month period and involved:

• Using the team 360 feedback report to provide feedback and a benchmark of team functioning and performance
• Two 1½ day workshops focusing on:

Individual effectiveness – personal style, impact and behavioural skills

Team effectiveness – identifying and overcoming barriers to high performance

• One to one coaching with team members
• Feedback to the MD and key stakeholders on how they could support the team’s progress.

It was clear from the outset that the team needed to face up to some historical baggage, behaviours and unspoken tensions which had held them back.  This involved facilitating some difficult conversations and straight feedback amongst the team.  Once we got past this, the focus was on aligning the team around a shared goal and building the behaviours to achieve this.

Outcomes

• A more supportive, collaborative team working environment
• Improved communications between team members
• A Team Charter which outlined the team’s shared objectives and how they needed to work together going forward
• A re-structuring and re-definition of roles within the team to better deploy the talents of its members

When it mattered most, under intense pressure, the team worked together effectively.  Their collective talent, determination and commitment secured them the result they deserved at the end of the season.