Background and Challenges
Ipswich’s middle and senior managers faced the challenges of navigating Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), with varying levels of experience in managing change. The council’s leadership team sought support to address the people-focused aspects of LGR, ensuring their workforce was prepared for the cultural and operational shifts ahead.
The challenge was significant:
- Managers needed tools to build confidence and resilience while leading their teams through uncertainty.
- Workforce planning was critical to address hard-to-fill roles, capability gaps, and capacity challenges.
- Preserving and evolving the council’s proud organisational culture was a key priority.
Trueman Change Involvement
Trueman Change partnered with Ipswich to deliver a two-phase programme designed to equip senior managers with the tools, insights, and confidence to lead effectively through LGR.
Key activities included:
First Session (July): Aimed at 35 senior managers, this session focused on the people aspects of LGR. It included:
- Research-based insights into LGR psychology and leadership during uncertain times
- Practical frameworks such as the “Cats and Cheese” theory (risk and reward) and Self
- Determination Theory (autonomy, competence, and relatedness)
- Resilience strategies and group reflections to foster collaboration and shared understanding
Second Session (November): This session focused on workforce planning, including:
- Group discussions on hard-to-fill roles, capability, and capacity
- Development of a workforce strategy to address future challenges
- A dedicated segment on culture, aligning organisational values with the demands of LGR
Outcomes and Solutions
Trueman Change’s involvement provided Ipswich’s senior managers with the tools and confidence to navigate the complexities of LGR.
Key outcomes included:
- Increased Confidence: Managers reported feeling more equipped to lead their teams through uncertainty and change.
- Strategic Workforce Planning: The sessions enabled leaders to identify key challenges in capability, capacity, and hard-to-fill roles, laying the groundwork for a robust workforce strategy.
- Cultural Alignment: Discussions on culture helped preserve and adapt the council’s proud organisational identity, ensuring it remains a strength during LGR.
- Valuable Insights: The sessions went beyond traditional training, offering research-based insights and psychological frameworks tailored to Ipswich’s unique context. Attendees also had the unique opportunity to explore their own organisation alongside a psychologist, fostering deeper understanding and actionable strategies.
Added Value
Trueman Change’s approach provided attendees with a unique opportunity to go beyond traditional training. By working directly with Organisational Psychologist, Lucy Trueman, senior managers were able to explore their own organisation in depth, gaining tailored insights and strategies that addressed Ipswich’s specific challenges. This personalised approach provided a platform for a deeper understanding of their organisation’s dynamics and equipped leaders with actionable tools to navigate change effectively.
