Where diversity is prized for driving innovation, our client—a business unit within a major international insurance company—faced a unique challenge: aligning a team of seven diverse sub-managers around a common purpose. While each leader brought valuable perspectives and expertise, differences in backgrounds and experiences had led to concerns about cohesion and effective collaboration. Recognizing the need for a unified vision, the client partnered with us to implement a structured approach that would reveal team dynamics, encourage open dialogue, and empower their leaders to harness their diversity as a powerful asset for shared success.
Our client’s challenges and context
Our client, a business unit within a prominent international insurance company headquartered in Switzerland, operates in a complex and competitive market. With a diverse team of seven sub-managers, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences to the table, the company values diversity as a key driver of innovation and creativity. They recognize that leveraging a range of backgrounds and viewpoints is essential to maintaining a dynamic, forward-thinking organization capable of meeting new challenges head-on.
However, despite this strong commitment to diversity, the client faced underlying concerns about team cohesion and alignment. The management team’s diverse backgrounds, while an asset, also posed potential challenges in fostering a unified sense of purpose. The client was uncertain whether these sub-managers shared a common vision and if they could effectively collaborate toward shared goals. With each manager handling different areas of the business, there were potential gaps in communication and collaboration, raising questions about how aligned the team truly was on fundamental objectives and values.
This ambiguity extended to everyday interactions as well as strategic planning, where differences in perspectives could lead to misunderstandings or missed opportunities for synergy. The client was especially concerned about the possibility of unspoken issues or “hidden taboos” that might prevent open dialogue within the team, undermining trust and cohesion. They wanted to understand the team’s dynamics more deeply to address these potential barriers, fostering an environment where every member felt fully engaged and supportive of each other’s roles.
In this context, the client sought a solution that would not only reveal the underlying dynamics within their team but also provide a foundation for enhancing collaboration and mutual understanding. They needed a structured approach to evaluate team perceptions objectively, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and ultimately build a more cohesive and effective management team.
Our Approach
To address the client’s needs for deeper team cohesion and alignment, we implemented a structured approach that focused on gathering accurate insights, facilitating open discussion, and identifying actionable solutions. This multi-step process used the Team Climate Inventory (TCI), a validated tool for measuring team dynamics, to evaluate the key dimensions affecting team performance and cohesion.
1. Measuring Team Perceptions with the Team Climate Inventory
Our first step was to gather a comprehensive understanding of the team’s internal dynamics. To achieve this, we utilized the Team Climate Inventory (TCI), a psychometrically validated instrument designed specifically to measure perceptions of teamwork and organizational climate. This tool allowed us to assess four critical dimensions:
- Vision: Understanding whether the team shared a common purpose and if there was clarity and commitment toward collective goals.
- Task Orientation: Evaluating the team’s approach to task execution, attention to quality, and commitment to excellence in their work.
- Security of Participation: Assessing the degree to which team members felt safe to express ideas, take risks, and contribute openly without fear of criticism or exclusion.
- Support for Innovation: Gauging the team’s openness to new ideas, willingness to innovate, and support for collaborative creativity.
By applying the TCI, we provided a data-driven foundation for understanding each manager’s perspective on these dimensions. This quantitative insight was invaluable for the next stages, as it highlighted where perceptions aligned and diverged within the team.
2. Workshop Presentation of Key Findings
Following the assessment, we organized a workshop with the entire management team to present the findings. The workshop was structured to be both informative and interactive, allowing each manager to see the data on team dynamics and understand the broader perspective. We highlighted the dimensions where perceptions showed the greatest variability among team members, making it clear where potential disconnects existed in terms of vision, task orientation, participation security, and innovation support.
The aim of this presentation was not only to inform but also to create a transparent and safe environment for discussion. By sharing the results openly, we encouraged each team member to reflect on their role within the team dynamic and begin considering ways to bridge these perceptual gaps. This step set the stage for a constructive and solution-focused dialogue.
3. Moderated Discussion and Root Cause Exploration
With the findings now visible to all, we facilitated a moderated discussion aimed at understanding the root causes of perceptual differences. Each manager had the opportunity to share their views on why certain dimensions might be perceived differently by their colleagues. This discussion allowed the team to delve into potential influences such as cultural background, individual management styles, or unique functional priorities that may shape each person’s view on the team’s cohesion and objectives.
The moderated environment was crucial in encouraging openness and fostering empathy, as managers began to see how their colleagues’ perspectives were shaped by their distinct roles and experiences. This exploration process allowed us to unearth potential “hidden taboos” and sensitive topics that had previously gone unaddressed, paving the way for greater understanding and trust.
4. Brainstorming Solutions and Developing Action Plans
The final stage involved a collaborative brainstorming session to identify actionable steps the team could take to improve cohesion and alignment. Managers proposed strategies to strengthen team vision, enhance task orientation, and promote a culture of security and innovation. These ideas were tailored to address the specific perceptual gaps uncovered during the TCI assessment and the workshop discussion.
To ensure lasting impact, we helped the team formalize these ideas into an actionable plan. The proposed actions included regular check-ins on team alignment, setting shared objectives for collaborative projects, and incorporating open feedback mechanisms to sustain the improvements. This structured action plan provided the client with a roadmap to reinforce their team’s cohesion and foster a more unified, purpose-driven environment.
This comprehensive approach allowed the client to gain a clearer understanding of the factors impacting team dynamics, creating a foundation for sustainable collaboration and mutual support. By systematically addressing the unique needs of this diverse management team, we empowered them to harness their diversity as a source of strength, driving both individual and collective success.
Key Benefits
Our structured approach provided our client with a range of tangible benefits, allowing them to transform their team dynamics and create a more cohesive, collaborative management team. Below are the main benefits the client gained from this engagement.
1. Clear and Valid Insights into Team Perceptions
By utilizing the Team Climate Inventory (TCI), we provided the client with accurate, data-driven insights into each team member’s perception of the team’s identity and cohesion. This level of clarity allowed the client to identify where alignment existed and where gaps in understanding and expectations lay. The structured insights offered by TCI created a foundation for honest conversations and transparent feedback, fostering a shared understanding of the current team climate.
2. Enhanced Mutual Understanding
The facilitated discussions and workshop allowed team members to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives, even on topics often taken for granted or avoided in everyday conversations. Through guided dialogue and exploration of sensitive issues, team members were able to openly address topics that might previously have been considered “hidden taboos.” This experience increased empathy and respect among colleagues, strengthening the interpersonal connections essential for effective teamwork.
3. Quantitative Basis for Transparent Communication
The TCI’s quantitative results provided a concrete basis for feedback and discussion, allowing team members to move beyond assumptions and subjective impressions. By grounding discussions in measurable data, the team was able to engage in more objective and transparent communication. This approach minimized defensiveness, encouraged openness, and established a shared language for discussing team dynamics and addressing areas for improvement.
4. Empowerment to Foster a Cohesive Culture
With the insights gained from the assessment and discussions, the management team became empowered to take actionable steps to build a more cohesive and supportive culture. The brainstorming session generated practical ideas tailored to the team’s unique dynamics, leading to an action plan focused on shared goals, regular alignment check-ins, and proactive feedback mechanisms. This empowered the client to implement ongoing practices that reinforced alignment, collaboration, and a sense of shared purpose across the team.
5. Foundation for Sustained Team Development
The benefits of this engagement extended beyond immediate improvements in team cohesion. The data-driven insights, open communication, and actionable plan created a solid foundation for sustained development within the team. The client now has tools and strategies in place to continuously monitor team alignment and address any emerging issues. This commitment to ongoing development ensures that the team will remain resilient and adaptable, able to leverage their diversity as a core strength in navigating future challenges.
Through these benefits, the client achieved a stronger, more unified management team, fully equipped to leverage their diverse perspectives for dynamic and effective leadership. The result was not only an immediate improvement in team cohesion but also a lasting framework for continuous collaboration and growth.
Interested in Building a Cohesive, Aligned Team?
If your organization values diversity as a strategic asset but faces challenges in aligning diverse perspectives, our team can help you turn that diversity into a true advantage. Our proven approach to team cohesion and alignment combines expert facilitation, validated tools like the Team Climate Inventory, and a commitment to fostering open dialogue and actionable insights. With our support, you can build a unified vision, strengthen collaboration, and empower your leadership team to navigate complexity with confidence.
Ready to transform your team dynamics? Connect with our experts today to learn more about our tailored services and how we can help your team achieve similar results. Book a meeting with us and discover how we can help you unlock the full potential of your team.