Building a high-performing L&D team
Restructuring can throw a curveball. Openreach‘s new L&D team in Scotland? They were a blank canvas, ready to deliver, but needed the right framework. We helped them paint a picture of high-performance that resonated across the entire department.
The challenge
Openreach underwent a departmental restructuring, resulting in the formation of a new L&D team of 12 trainers. This team, tasked with delivering skills training across Scotland, presented a unique challenge: diverse ages, skill sets, and professional backgrounds needed to be integrated quickly and effectively.
Key requirements
Openreach’s restructuring created a team with significant potential, but also complexities. The challenge wasn’t just about training delivery but about rapidly integrating individuals with varying experience levels, working styles, and regional perspectives. They needed to establish a cohesive team identity, build trust, and develop a shared operational framework to ensure consistent, high-quality training across a geographically dispersed region.
Our solution
Recognising the need for rapid and impactful team integration, we designed a bespoke solution that prioritised individual understanding and collective alignment. We moved beyond surface-level team building, focusing on creating a shared language and operational framework that would empower the team to function independently and effectively. This involved a multi-faceted approach, combining data-driven insights with collaborative workshops, to build a strong foundation for sustainable high performance.
Our approach
To establish a robust foundation for the new team, we conducted individual assessments, utilising psychometric tools and incorporating self-reflection exercises to gain a comprehensive understanding of each team member’s motivations, expectations, and working styles. Subsequently, we facilitated a workshop designed to guide the team in identifying their collective purpose, thereby fostering a sense of unity and shared direction. Finally, we collaborated with the team to develop a comprehensive team charter and commitment, which outlined shared values, goals, and accountability measures, and defined clear roles and responsibilities.
The impact
Within two days, the team hit the ground running, owning their space across multiple sites, with no hand-holding needed. We made sure to keep our finger on the pulse and tracked engagement and comms. The team’s success served as a model for wider implementation, resulting in measurable positive impacts on engagement and business metrics across multiple teams.
Key outcomes
- A two-day intensive workshop successfully established a foundation for a highly engaged and independently operating team across multiple sites.
- Subsequent reviews and surveys demonstrated measurable improvements in team engagement, communication and overall morale.
- The team was identified as the highest-performing within the 300-person L&D department.
Through Hoxton's expert-led assessments and workshops, we gained a deep understanding of our collective purpose and established a team charter that truly aligned us. Justin's impact was nothing short of exceptional.
Kevin, Director, Openreach