HIGH OCTANE TEAM DEVELOPMENT

A world-class motorsport team needed to overcome rivalries and tensions to pull off a rapid mid-season turnaround in their performance

THE CHALLENGE

Our client was a team operating at the forefront of motorsport. The team was running two cars with separate drivers. Tensions between the drivers had cascaded through the team and was affecting their performance on the track. The CEO engaged O.R.Talent mid-season to help improve the team’s effectiveness.

OUR APPROACH

  • We met with team members and key stakeholder to identify the issues holding the team back.
  • The team contained some of the sharpest minds in the sport. But there was a lack of trust and communication - exacerbated by the relentless schedule and intense pressure of the racing season.
  • The teams were expected to collaborate in optimizing the set-up of both cars, but they were operating as two competing sub-teams focused on their individual success. A lose-lose.
  • Legacy issues, intense competitiveness, unspoken tensions and high levels of stress were preventing the team from moving forward.
  • We facilitated a series of team coaching sessions focused on surfacing and addressing the barriers that were holding them back.
  • The team coaching was supplemented with one-on-one coaching with team leaders.
  • We engaged key stakeholders in providing the team with real-time feedback on their effectiveness.

THE IMPACT

  • Increased trust between the teams,
  • Agreement on accountabilities and behavioral norms within the team​
  • Improved communications and technical collaboration between the teams
  • A ‘one team’ mindset with a focus on beating the main competition vs. one another
  • After a patchy start, the team went on to win the season.