Programme: Work / Life Balance

Case Study Overview

Working Voices was asked to deliver leadership coaching to the Head of Operations at one of the largest technology companies in the world (with a multi-billion dollar turnover to defend and develop).

Following initial coaching sessions and board level consultation a process of anonymous interviews were carried out to ascertain the state of health and well-being that existed within the organisation.

At the end of the consultation process it was agreed that an off site event would be held with an appropriately designed programme to focus on the work / life balance of the operations team.

The objective of the programme was to develop harmony and direction within the group and to create a set of work / life principles that the team would be willing and able to commit to.

The event was held over two days at a Central London location and included African drumming, analysis, in-depth leadership discussions and a good deal of fun including the use of a clown. All the objectives were met and the event was hailed as a resounding success.

Since the event a series of follow-up sessions has ensured the team and the organisation are living and benefiting from it's commitment to the new work / life principles.

If you would like a more detailed account of this case study please scroll down or contact Tina @ Working Voices to find out more about our Leadership Development team and how it can help improve the balance and success of your organisation.

The Client brief

Working Voices was asked to deliver leadership coaching to a new client within the UK. The organisation is one of the largest technology companies in the world with a multi-billion dollar turnover to defend and develop.

Head leadership coach JC Mac began by initiating one to one coaching to the Head of Operations. As the coaching progressed what began to reveal itself was a breakdown in the work / life balance of the team and organisation.

At first it did not look like a leadership issue but soon it became clear that health and well-being requires a level of accountability that fits perfectly with the leadership development of any business.

Solution

An insight into the health and well-being of individuals within this company sparked a four-day anonymous interview process across the business to discover the extent to which delivering on targets was affecting their health.

The process lead to a report that revealed the full extent of a culture that was unknowingly allowing the health and well being of its people to deteriorate to the point of potentially severe consequences.

Our report was presented to top leadership for discussion and decision about what could be done to enhance the health of the team. The result was a decision to take the team off-line for two days for a work / life balance programme. The objective of the programme was to deepen relationships, create a set of healthy principles that the team would be willing and able to commit to, and have fun.

The Programme and Event

The event began early with a clown welcoming the team to help set a relaxed tone of the programme that the client and Working Voices had jointly designed.

With an environment and setting that greatly enhanced the direction of the programme and context of the event the team settled after introductions and clarification of how the whole process came about.

A Working Voices coach then began the programme using sound and voice coaching to reduce stress and create a calm and nurturing space for everyone to begin to relax and see things in a new and innovative way.

What followed were a series of exercises that led the team to a higher level of accountability as leaders. Through raising accountability you change the way people see their world which results in a willingness to take on personal responsibility and deliver higher levels of performance.

After the set-up and some leadership development, attention was turned to working with African drumming. The style of drumming helped take people out of their conventional way of working as individuals and as a team and created a different context for development.

As the programme progressed, Teresa Hale, from the Hale Clinic, London, spoke to the team about how a) the body operates under stress and b) some of the best ways to improve health while in the work place. Teresa was met with great enthusiasm with the team engaging her in a question and answer period on tips and techniques on healthier living.

Throughout the two days the team alternated between leadership discussions, drumming and voice and sound coaching to finally create the space needed for the team to deliver the core objective of forming a set of work / life balance principles to commit to and live by.

The final stage of the programme was made up of the group splitting into four teams with each being instructed to design and present what they believed were the principles best suited for the group. Each team then created a drumming piece, performed it to the whole group and invited them to buy into their principles.

After the presentations and the performances the group aligned around twelve of what were considered the best principles for the health of the business.

The two day event came to an end with the group acknowledging each other and communicating the value that each had created throughout the programme.

The results and ongoing programme

From the initial programme Working Voices and our client now have in place monthly follow-up sessions to ensure a) the new culture is being embedded within the team and organisation and b) the team is living and benefiting from their commitment to their new work / life balance principles.

The results achieved were:

• Clarification of what was the culture and the state of affairs that was causing the breakdown in health throughout the business.
• An opportunity for people to confidently communicate their views on a) What it was like working under pressure and b) how it was affecting individual health.
• The opportunity to develop new leadership styles that will lead to a deeper influence with their teams.
• A higher level of accomplishment by creating bigger relationships with each other.
• Team alignment.
• A New insight into how to best take care of personal and team health.
• Higher levels of accountability leading to higher levels of productivity and personal health.
• Better health through a set of work / life balance distinctions.
• A set of work / life balance principles to improve the quality of life within the organisation, and at home.
• The beginning of a new and healthier culture within their business and company.