We often hear of accredited Network Members using the Team Management Profile in company off-sites, but we think Cathy Bernatt’s group in Tokyo might be the biggest yet!
Over 40 HR managers, consultants and Network Members braved a dark and freezing Tokyo morning to hear Cathy Bernatt, President of Creating... along with Mary Murray, General Manager IT of an international investment bank, speak at a Team Management Systems (TMS) breakfast seminar at the Westin Hotel.
The seminar began with a welcome address by the Trade Commissioner of Austrade, Richard Gruppetta, followed by an introduction to the TMS approach by our Senior Consultant, Clio Robertson.
After the welcome and introduction, the audience heard Cathy and Mary discuss the details of the team development programme aimed to support the bank’s efforts to implement a client-focused strategy. Of the 300 team members involved in the programme, 180 attended the off-site programme.
Cathy said, "The aim of the offsite was to focus on client service, as a downturn in the market had led the company generally and the division, specifically, to become inwards focused. In order to support the business and its goals, they needed to be more client-focused, and become more strategic and outward-looking – in order words, the culture needed to change."
Speaking from the client’s perspective, Mary said, "As a starting point, we selected the TMP to act as a catalyst for the team to develop strategies to leverage strengths, and to provide a common language and a path to deeper understanding of self and others."
Over twenty languages were spoken by the 300 team members, although the majority were Japanese – and off the 300 team members involved, only two people queried their TMP – testimony to its accuracy with people from all over the world! Cathy explained that this may have been a matter of self-awareness as the colleagues agreed with the Profile reports.
Mary said, "I still refer to my TMP – it has sticking power." She also pointed out a significant outcome of the programme was the generation of over 190 improvements suggestions. "Achieving this outcome means the bank is better placed to direct resources to where it is needed and will help us move forward to the next stage of the development process," says Mary.
Thanks again Mary and Cathy for sharing your insights into how you applied the TMS tools and techniques to solve a business challenge!
Many thanks also to Richard Gruppetta and Tomoko Ichikawa of Austrade, and Nicole Patterson of Trade QLD for their assistance with this event.
 | TMS-accredited Network Member, Cathy Bernatt delivering Tokyo’s largest Team Management Profile off-site programme | | Participants reading their Team Management Profiles |  |  |
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