The IT teams at the University of South Wales and Cardiff University faced a challenging landscape in late 2024, with announced redundancies and financial pressures impacting morale. Encouraged by Welsh government initiatives to work collectively, the teams saw an opportunity to strengthen collaboration. Sue Smith, Head of Customer Services at South Wales, championed development as a priority, building on the South Wales IT department’s progress over the past five years. Strengthify’s joint Discovery Workshop and Management Development Programme (MDP), brought the teams together to unlock their potential.
The result? Enhanced collaboration, renewed motivation, and practical tools to leverage strengths, enabling the teams to navigate challenges with resilience. Discover how this joint initiative transformed their approach.
The IT teams operated under significant strain, with redundancies creating uncertainty and financial constraints limiting resources. Heavy workloads and time pressures hindered opportunities for team development and cross-university collaboration. Without a clear framework to focus on strengths, team members struggled to align tasks with their talents, impacting efficiency and engagement.
Redundancies: Uncertainty affected morale and team dynamics.
Financial constraints: Limited resources for development initiatives.
Workload pressures: Reduced time for collaboration and reflection.
“More time, less chaos in work.” —Jeremy Thomas, University of South Wales
Strengthify’s strengths-based framework offered a solution to unite the IT teams. The Discovery Workshop introduced CliftonStrengths assessments, revealing individual and team talents through engaging discussions. The MDP equipped managers with tools to embed strengths in leadership practices, fostering collaboration across the universities. The sessions encouraged open dialogue, with participants valuing the group dynamic and practical insights.
The workshops helped team members reflect on their strengths and understand colleagues’ talents, creating a shared language for collaboration. Managers learned to align tasks with strengths, enhancing efficiency and morale. The CliftonStrengths Report provided actionable insights, reframing traits as strengths and guiding performance conversations.
Discovery Workshop: CliftonStrengths assessments sparked insights and team discussions.
Management Development Programme: Trained leaders to integrate strengths into management.
Embedding Strengths: Applied strengths in task allocation and cross-team collaboration.
“The course really made me think about the strengths and skills of my team and how I will manage and interact with them.” —Jeremy Thomas, University of South Wales
The impact was transformative. The joint workshops fostered a shared understanding of strengths, breaking down barriers between the universities and strengthening collaboration. Managers gained confidence in leading with strengths, aligning tasks to boost efficiency despite resource constraints. Morale improved as team members felt valued, with participants reporting increased motivation and new perspectives on their roles. The strengths-based approach provided a positive framework to navigate redundancies and financial challenges.
Enhanced Collaboration: Cross-university dialogue strengthened team dynamics.
“As a project manager, this is going to help me to understand how to give recognition but also understand the best way to motivate colleagues.” —Hannah Cord-Jenkins, University of South Wales
Improved Efficiency: Strengths-based task allocation optimised workflows.
“It covered areas that help individuals identify their skills and strengths, ultimately bringing more value to the business. The course provided actionable insights and practical strategies that can be directly applied to enhance both personal and organisational performance.” —Yasiruk Thareendra Karawita, University of South Wales
Boosted Morale: Team members felt energised and valued.
“It’s the most effective way to bring out the best performance in colleagues.” —Ashley Hicks, University of South Wales
Increased Self-Awareness: Participants gained actionable insights.
“It put into words some of the things I know I am capable of doing but also put these things into perspective.” —Hannah Cord-Jenkins, University of South Wales
80% of MDP participants rated the course “Very valuable” or “Extremely valuable.”
75% of Discovery Workshop attendees agreed they better understood colleagues’ strengths.
95% found the CliftonStrengths Report insightful for personal and team growth.
The IT teams are committed to sustaining their strengths-based culture. Plans include expanding participation in the MDP to develop more leaders and hosting follow-up team workshops to deepen collaboration. Long-term, they aim to embed strengths across their departments, fostering a resilient, collaborative culture that supports Welsh universities’ collective goals.
Sustaining Progress: Regular strengths-focused discussions in team meetings.
Expanding Training: More managers to join the Management Development Programme.
Broader Vision: Expand strengths-based methods across other teams to enhance departmental culture.
“My view and approach as a manager has changed after this programme, and I will be able to provide better support to colleagues that report to me and to the organisation as a whole.” —Vitor Matos, University of South Wales
Ready to unite your team with a strengths-based approach? Contact Strengthify today!
Discover Your Strengths: Book a workshop to uncover your team’s unique talents → Book Now
Empower Your Leaders: Enroll in our Management Development Programme → Find Out More
Learn More: Visit www.strengthify.com to transform your team → Click Here