How the right data can help leaders thrive

Touted as the new gold, organisations across the globe have cottoned onto the value of data as a way to unlock deep insights about the nature of their business. 

When we think of the power of data though, it often conjures images of complex dashboards displaying detailed statistics on sales or operations. We don’t think about data in the context of a humble team, and how we could possibly use it to enable authentic conversations and build trust and cohesion.

Yet the capability for this certainly exists – developed by thought leaders in psychology and behavioural science to help individuals and organisations improve outcomes through analysis and predictive insights.

As a strong believer in using evidence-based methods to support my leadership coaching within organisations, I am particularly excited about the potential for these tools. I’ve already seen first-hand how they aid in facilitating honest and productive team discussions, and can be leveraged to support post-workshop progress as participants embark on implementing lessons learned.  

Selecting the right tool for the right outcomes

Every team is different and every leadership program is unique. This is why I spend significant time learning to use, or becoming accredited in, a variety of tools that best support my clients to achieve their specific objectives.

Portia Hickey, co-founder of Communication Labs and Thrive Matters in the UK, shares this sentiment. As a qualified psychologist and behavioural scientist, Portia passionately applies her skills and experience to help organisations create transformational change.

Thrive Matters brings together cutting edge accelerators and diagnostic tools from leading professionals and institutions which organisations can use to enhance performance.

One such tool is the recently developed Collaboration Climate Survey. The tool is administered in real time during leadership workshops using a QR code, with each participant answering a series of questions before the aggregate results are displayed live on a dashboard.

The questions are carefully formulated to gain a deep understanding of an individual’s sense of:

• psychological safety
• inclusion
• problem solving orientation

With only the combined result shown, we’re able to gain instant insights into team sentiment and understand what’s working well and what might be holding the team back. The results also prompt meaningful conversations about what the results may mean and how challenges could be addressed.

Tools such as the Collaboration Climate Survey serve to enhance the outcomes I achieve with my clients – particularly when it comes to leadership cohesion and collaboration.

The power of data to enable change

More than a numerical snapshot, the objective data we can obtain from using tools such as the Collaboration Climate Survey can be a catalyst for profound change.

Because we’re transforming data into actionable insights, and can track progress with repeated use of the tool over a set period of time, the team is empowered to continuously learn and evolve.

Be it the Collaboration Climate Survey, the Smart Collaboration Accelerator, or another advanced behavioural tool I now have as part of my ever-growing leadership coaching toolbox, I am excited by the potential to use data to enable a new depth of understanding and create positive change for leaders and teams.

To learn more about applying advanced diagnostic and behavioural tools to promote team trust and collaboration, please email me at kv@kimvella.com.au.