At t‑three Consulting, we believe that organisations don’t change; people do – one behaviour at a time. In our Top Team Troubles series, we share real-life stories of leadership transformation. While some details have been modified for confidentiality, the essence of the journey remains genuine and relatable.
Weathering the Storm: Extraordinary Leadership in the Public Sector
When a high-profile public sector organisation faced a significant financial crisis, it became clear that tough decisions around structure, resources, and roles were unavoidable. Employing hundreds in a highly unionised environment, the stakes were high. The road ahead promised ongoing uncertainty, rapid change, and a level of ambiguity that would test even the most experienced leaders.
It wasn’t going to be enough to rely on business-as-usual leadership. The situation called for something more—extraordinary leadership that could navigate complexity, inspire confidence, and build resilience in the face of ongoing turbulence.
The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) recognised that if they could rally their leaders effectively, there was a real opportunity not just to survive the crisis, but to emerge stronger. That’s when they invited t‑three to support them in crafting a leadership response capable of meeting the moment.
We began with deep diagnostics, including strategic interviews, psychometrics, and our unique Truth Teller 360 feedback tool. These insights revealed crucial behavioural patterns, blind spots, and leadership strengths. Importantly, they also laid the groundwork for building an open, feedback-rich culture starting right at the top.
From there, we designed and delivered bespoke workshops focused on a handful of “vital few” leadership behaviours that would drive meaningful, lasting change. The programme was cascaded across the organisation—embedding a shared leadership language, developing core capabilities, and fostering resilience at every level.
Safe spaces were created for leaders to open up, share challenges, and support each other—spaces designed to outlast any initial intervention. Leaders were no longer navigating uncertainty alone; they were now part of a supportive, energised collective ready to take on what lay ahead.
The moral of the story is that no matter how stretching the challenges maybe ahead through listening, engaging and motivating learning content, the true potential of leaders can be revealed and furthermore, teams can be galvanised to face uncertainty with confidence and humility giving realistic brightness to what might first appear to be unsurmountable odds. If you're facing top team troubles, we’re here to help. Because while organisations face complex challenges, the answer always begins with people.
If you’re ready to tackle top team troubles and build a united leadership team that truly drives change, get in touch with us. Remember, organisations don’t change, people do – one behaviour at a time.
