Improving individual self-awareness and team effectiveness

This organisation had a diverse team, including members with highly different functions who were located in separate geographic locations across several continents. At some times these diverse backgrounds and experiences working for the organisation had led to some differing expectations and miscommunication. Therefore, the organisation wished to use personality profiling to boost self-perception in relation to individual strengths and development opportunities, to support better understanding of others’ perspectives, and to understand team strengths and development opportunities. An upcoming annual conference represented an opportunity to implement this process.

The organisation was particularly keen to use the MBTI as a profiling tool to assist with this processed.

We began by meeting with key project representatives to agree upon the tool to be used, the purposes of the assessment, any communications to the team, and other project logistics (e.g., stakeholders, timeframes, roles and responsibilities).

Then we assisted with communications to team members about the assessments and process. Following this, People Solutions coordinated and administered all aspects of the testing process, liaising with participants and addressing any queries or concerns. As participants completed their assessments, we generated their MBTI reports.

We used the results from these reports to then design a tailored half-day interactive workshop for the team. This workshop introduced them to the concept of personality type, walked them through their own reports and results, and took them on a journey to discover the different profiles that made up their team. Throughout the session, participants were prompted to use the information they were learning to discuss their different preferred ways of working, work environment, communicating, structuring and planning tasks, receiving and giving feedback, being recognised, helping each other, and how they respond to change. They also came up with questions to help them understand each other better.

The workshop finished with action planning around what participants would keep doing that works, what they will do differently, how and when they will do this, and how they will check to see if they are on track. Follow up information was also provided to support team members with ongoing individual and team development.

The workshop was well received by participants and feedback from the project sponsor indicated that the feedback from attendees was positive and that they took a lot away from the session.