In your experience, why is team development more crucial than ever in today’s volatile environment?
We live in a world that’s increasingly characterised by what we refer to as ‘VUCA’ – volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguityand more recently, ‘BANI’, which stands for brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible. I’m sure that feels very relatable for every reader at the moment!
The importance of team development amid this chaos cannot be overstated. It mitigates the risks of low morale, low job satisfaction, high staff turnover, poor communication and ultimately, low productivity.
Are traditional management approaches failing?
Traditional management approaches often assume a level of predictability that simply doesn’t exist in a VUCA or BANI world. In these environments, leaders need to foster teams that are not just surviving, but thriving amidst continuous disruption. To do this, you need to focus on agility, resilience and emotional intelligence – qualities that are cultivated through deliberate and consistent team development, aligned to organisational values and team objectives.
These uncertain environments also have a huge impact on morale and job satisfaction. Job security isn’t something organisations can guarantee in stable times, never mind in uncertain ones. Employees crave stability and a sense of purpose so by investing in team development, you can create a supportive and growthoriented culture which will help employees now, but also if and when they move on – ensuring have a ‘toolkit’ of skills and techniques to support themselves to embrace new opportunities.
What is People Spark’s approach to supporting clients to mitigate the risks posed by volatility and uncertain times?
We tailor our programs to meet the specific needs of each organisation – there is no one size fits all approach. We really focus in on communication and relationship management; uncertain times can put a lot of pressure on relationships which causes ripple effects across teams, whole organisations and even out to customers and suppliers. Our team development fosters open communication, trust, and collaborationall of which are crucial for maintaining a cohesive and productive team environment. When team members trust each other and their leaders, they are more likely to support one another and work together towards common goals, even in the face of adversity.
One of our clients recently fed back that the “positive impact of the work that People Spark does cannot be underestimated. They support leaders to build workforces that are happier, more supported, and more heard. The world could do with more Spark!”
What trends are you seeing in team development needs this year?
We’ve noticed a significant trend toward leaders wanting to build high psychological safety for their teams amid the backdrop of constant change and unpredictability. We’re supporting many organisations – from housing associations, tech organisations to retail and professional services – in taking the time to reflect, build relationships with high trust, be clear about expectations and encourage regular feedback and healthy challenge within their teams.
If you think your team could benefit from support like this, get in touch with scott@peoplesparksolutions.co.uk for a no-obligation chat.
www.peoplesparksolutions.co.uk
