Insights® Discovery is the perfect model for understanding yourself and how you might be perceived by others. Within the team environment it allows us to recognise strengths and preferences of behaviour within each team member. It shows factors that are ‘team critical’, not just for overall team success, like trust, collaboration and effectiveness.
“A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other” – Simon Sinek
Teams are a non-negotiable aspect for any successful business. Team members need a deep understanding of each other, rather than relying on capability or technical acumen.
Understanding ourselves
So, before we understand the team we must understand ourselves. The first step of an Insights® Discovery journey is for each delegate to complete an online evaluator, creating their personal profile. Their profile identifies strengths and addresses weaknesses, providing individuals with improved levels of self-awareness. It covers key areas, including:
- Personal style.
- Decision-making.
- Interacting with others.
- Effective communication.
- Value to the team.
Once we understand ourselves, the second step is to understand others.
“Seek first to understand and then be understood” – Dr Stephen Covey
The profiles are then used to help individuals understand each other. With this deeper understanding of others, we then discover how we can best ‘adapt and connect’ with differing team members – win-win being the ultimate outcome.
Value to the team
Insights® Discovery shows the diverse characteristics, strengths and motivators each person brings to the team – their ‘Value to the Team’. This drives healthy and productive relationships, built on understanding, trust and respect.
Within an Insights® Discovery workshop, we generate active, reflective and collaborative discussions. The team then goes through an insightful journey, seeing how they work and function as a team, based on their mix or preferences and energies.
When to consider a team Insights® Discovery session?
Insights® Discovery can be used at any stage of a team’s development, especially when they need to communicate more effectively; appreciate diverse perspectives; improve collaboration; and make better, more effective decisions – together. We recommend it:
- At the start of a new project – to understand team dynamics, individual strengths and potential areas of conflict. This helps in assigning roles and responsibilities that align with each team member’s natural preferences and strengths.
- When forming or reforming a team – when a new team is being formed or an existing team is undergoing significant changes (e.g., new members joining or key members leaving). This helps in quickly integrating new members and establishing effective working relationships.
- During strategic planning sessions – so you can align team members to the organisational vision, mission and goals. Understanding individual and team insights can facilitate better strategic discussions and decision-making.
- For conflict resolution – when there are ongoing conflicts or communication issues within the team. Insights® Discovery can help identify the root causes of conflicts and provide a framework for resolving them by improving understanding and communication.
- To address performance issues – by identifying individual and team development needs. Insights into personal and team dynamics can guide targeted training and development interventions.
- As part of leadership development programs – to help leaders understand their own styles and how to effectively manage and lead their teams. This fosters self-awareness and improves leadership effectiveness.
- During mergers and acquisitions – to help integrate different organisational cultures and teams. Understanding the diverse styles and preferences within the newly formed organisation can facilitate smoother transitions and better collaboration.
- For regular team development – such as annually or bi-annually, to ensure continuous team development and to revisit and refine team dynamics as needed. Regular Insights® Discovery sessions can keep the team aligned and adaptive to changes.
- When the organisation is undergoing significant changes (e.g., new technology implementation, restructuring) – Insights® discovery can help teams navigate change more effectively by understanding and leveraging their strengths.
- To improve customer relationship management – by understanding how different team members can best interact with and support customers based on their Insights profiles.
As a teamwork solution, Insights® Discovery helps foster stronger, more effective teams. The workshop provides illuminating, practical and sustainable tools that will help your teams work together long into the future.
Find out more about the workshop.
More about Richard Morris Richard is an accredited Think on Your Feet®, Writing Dynamics™, Lateral Thinking, Six Thinking Hats® and Insights® Discovery trainer and has delivered these workshops to numerous clients.
From an organisational development context, he has created and implemented a new leadership behavioural framework and set of associated flagship leadership development programmes.
