The power of the team
At our 2024 Do OD annual conference we delved into the heart of OD, putting a spotlight on the ever evolving topic of team dynamics. On this web page we share presentations and video highlights from our expert speakers and session leads containing ideas you can use in your own OD practice, and to benefit your organisation.
Teams are currently being asked to do more than ever, and they are experiencing challenges within their relationships, identity and purpose. This year, we focused on the potential of the team, and how that can be harnessed to achieve organisational goals and foster a positive workplace culture. With our speakers and session leads we delved into the dynamics of teams within systems and beyond, looking at how they function as essential components within the larger system frameworks.
On Tuesday 14 May, our conference started with a panel session looking at how we can build NHS teams for the future. John Herring, director of organisational development and culture at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, talked about how we need to influence beyond our usual spaces, be bold and be part of the conversation around how our services are created; Tally Kandola from NHS England spoke about professional development plans; and finally Paul Crampton from Hull York Medical School and Mary Costello from the GMC shared their newly-released research on team culture. There were some interesting discussions around the art of OD and raging against the machine to be heard in challenging environments.
Bruce Daisley opened the afternoon sessions with a discussion around finding fortitude, how having a best friend at work is one of the biggest predictors of engagement at work, and how when applying OD in the workplace small change can lead to big change.
Our final keynote session was a lively and inspirational talk from Anita Asante, former England Lioness and Olympian. Anita shared her experiences of team working, finding strength in difficult times, how playing in an open, inclusive and positive space shaped her as a person and applying her learning to support the next generation of players.
There were also ten breakout sessions, including explorations of how our psychological biases relate to team working, how we can better understand the dynamics influencing difficult teams and how inclusive leadership leads to better outcomes for all. Interactive sessions also focused on developing our collective wisdom and exploring team tools from Affina OD and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
