The Church Commissioners for England oversee the management of the Church of England’s vast assets, including its investments and real estate holdings. With such a diverse array of responsibilities, the organisation employs a wide variety of professionals—from investment bankers to operations. Despite working toward a common goal, these professionals often found themselves siloed within their own departments, limiting effective communication and collaboration.
Recognising the importance of teamwork in achieving long-term success, the leadership of the Church Commissioners sought to foster stronger relationships, improve communication, and create a culture of collaboration that would drive better outcomes for the organisation. To achieve this, they turned to Insights Discovery, a powerful tool for improving team dynamics and communication.
Leveraging Insights Discovery
To bring their vision to life, the Church Commissioners partnered with Roger Ayres, Head of Behavioural Learning (Perform) and an accredited Insights Discovery practitioner, to design a series of tailored workshops. Roger and his team of associates used the Insights Discovery framework to provide participants with valuable insights into their own behaviours, communication styles, and those of their colleagues.
At the heart of this initiative was a series of interactive workshops aimed at helping employees better understand themselves and each other. The workshops included an online Insights Discovery questionnaire, a psychometric tool that assesses an individual’s preferences, communication styles, and working behaviours.
The goal of these sessions was clear: by improving self-awareness and understanding the differences in how team members approach tasks, communicate, and make decisions, the Church Commissioners could foster a more collaborative and productive workplace. These workshops were designed to break down departmental silos and promote empathy and understanding, ultimately driving more effective teamwork across the organisation.
What is Insights Discovery?
Insights Discovery is an accredited profiling tool that helps individuals understand their own and others’ communication styles. Based on Carl Jung’s psychological theory, it uses a colour-based model to classify personality traits. The four colours represent different personal preferences without labelling them or boxing them off. They are:
- Fiery Red: Action-oriented, decisive, and competitive.
- Sunshine Yellow: People-focused, enthusiastic, and imaginative.
- Earth Green: Supportive, empathetic, and patient.
- Cool Blue: Analytical, detail-oriented, and systematic.
The first step in the workshop was for participants to complete the Insights Discovery online questionnaire that assesses their preferences, strengths and the value they bring. Once the results were in, each participant was assigned an individualised profile report, providing them with a deeper understanding of their own preferences and behaviours, as well as those of their colleagues.
Bridging Gaps through Personality Insights
In these workshops, participants engaged in group discussions and exercises to explore how their personality traits impacted their approach to work, decision-making, and communication. Through these exercises, team members discovered how to better align their behaviours with the needs of others. For example, someone with a strong Fiery Red preference may tend to make quick decisions, while a Cool Blue preference may prefer to gather more information before making choices. Recognising these differences allowed for greater respect and collaboration, with team members learning to adapt their approaches to suit different situations and preferences.
By understanding these dynamics, employees at the Church Commissioners were able to bridge gaps in communication and enhance their relationships across departments. The result was a more unified and cohesive organisation, where teams were empowered to collaborate more effectively, make better decisions, and solve problems more efficiently.
The results: enhanced collaboration and communication
By promoting a deeper understanding of preferences, the workshops fostered a culture of open communication and trust. Team members were more empathetic toward each other’s strengths and weaknesses, resulting in stronger relationships and smoother workflows. Departments that once operated in isolation began to collaborate more effectively, leveraging each other’s strengths to drive better outcomes.
The success of the Insights Discovery initiative at the Church Commissioners is a testament to the power of understanding and embracing and celebrating difference. By providing employees with the tools to recognise their own and their colleagues’ unique strengths, the organisation was able to break down silos, foster better communication, and create a culture of teamwork and collaboration.
For more information on how Me Learning can support your organisation, please email roger.ayres@melearning.co.uk
