Transforming Team Dynamics: How Goldsmiths Finance Team Embraced Strengths-Based Collaboration

A strengths-focused workshop fostering resilience, teamwork, and actionable leadership insights.

Building Resilience and Trust Through Strengths

The Finance Department at Goldsmiths, University of London, faced common challenges, including transformation programmes, low morale, and a lack of trust in senior management. Compounding these issues were broader socio-economic pressures affecting the higher education sector. Seeking a new approach to unite the team and drive positive change, Jamie Warner, Head of Financial Operations, turned to Strengthify.

Having previously attended the London BUFDG Senior Finance Leaders workshop and subsequently joined the Strengthify Management Development Programme alongside other key team managers, Jamie was inspired to introduce a strengths-based approach to the wider team. This team workshop was the next step in fostering collaboration, rebuilding morale, and embedding strengths into the department’s culture.

The workshop brought together 35-40 participants from all levels, creating a shared understanding of strengths and providing actionable insights to address shared challenges. The session’s success has set the foundation for expanding strengths-based practices across the department.

Rebuilding Morale and Enhancing Collaboration

Goldsmiths’ Finance Department wanted to address some key challenges:

• Rebuilding trust within the team during ongoing transformation programmes.
• Boosting morale and creating a shared sense of purpose.
• Bridging the gap between senior management and team members to foster a culture of openness and collaboration.

One participant shared:
“The workshop brought all levels of people in the department together, allowing us to better understand each other’s strengths.” —Imran Chughtai, Chief Finance and Infrastructure Officer

A Strengthify Team Workshop

The Strengthify Team Workshop provided an interactive platform for participants to explore their strengths and understand how these could align with departmental goals.

Aims of the Workshop:

• Foster connection and collaboration across different levels of the Finance Department.
• Provide actionable insights for leveraging strengths in day-to-day work.
• Equip participants with tools to boost individual and team resilience.

What the Session Covered:

1. Understanding Individual Strengths:
   Participants explored their CliftonStrengths results, identifying unique talents and potential blind spots.

   • “It was enlightening, helping me understand how my strengths contribute to the team’s success and how we can complement each other.” 

2. Team Dynamics and Collaboration:
   Discussions and activities highlighted how strengths combine across the team, fostering a stronger sense of trust and collaboration.

   • “We reviewed our strengths and discussed how to leverage them to tackle current challenges effectively.” 

3. Leadership Insights:
   Managers gained practical tools to align strengths with team objectives, improving task allocation and productivity.

   • “The tailored report and team grid provided clear ways to apply strengths in real-world scenarios.” —Jamie Warner

Strengthening Team Dynamics and Building Resilience

The workshop delivered impactful results, equipping the team with tools to rebuild morale, foster trust, and improve collaboration.

Key Outcomes from the Workshop:
✅ Improved Collaboration Across Levels:

• “The workshop fostered team connection and provided a neutral space to explore our uniqueness.”

✅ Increased Self-Awareness and Confidence:

• “The session increased my self-awareness of strengths while highlighting blind spots I can now address.”

✅ Practical Strategies for Team Resilience:

• “The discussions helped us see how to align strengths to address challenges effectively.”

Feedback Highlights

Overall Value of the Workshop:

• 94.3% of participants rated the workshop as extremely or very valuable.

• “An excellent insight into both personal strengths and how to leverage them across the team.”

Understanding Team Strengths:

• 100% agreed the workshop helped them better understand how strengths combine within the team.

• “The session gave us tools to complement our strengths with others, fostering a more cohesive team.”

Leadership and Practical Tools:

• “By using a strengths-based approach, we’ve already started seeing positive changes in how we collaborate and manage tasks.” —Jamie Warner

Embedding Strengths-Based Practices Across Goldsmiths

Following the workshop’s success, Goldsmiths’ Finance Department plans to:

• Expand the Strengthify framework to other teams within the university.
• Encourage managers to join the Strengthify Management Development Programme.
• Integrate strengths-based principles into regular meetings and leadership practices.

A team member reflected:
“Strengthify delivered a transformative workshop, unlocking and maximising both individual and team potential.”

Empower Your Team with Strengthify

Discover how Strengthify’s Team Workshops can transform your team’s dynamics, motivation, and performance:

1️⃣ Speak to us: Visit our Get in Touch page →
2️⃣ Join one of our Team Workshops: See our Events page →
3️⃣ Find out more about our Management Development Programme: Learn more here →