Leading Through Change: How Epsom & Ewell Borough Council are Equipping Their Leadership Team for Unprecedented Reorganisation

THE CHALLENGE

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have found themselves facing unprecedented change due to local government reorganisation - change that is being imposed rather than chosen.

Jackie King (CEO), leading the organisation through this upcoming transformation, recognised a critical challenge: her leadership team need to be able to not only cope with the change themselves but also lead their teams through it effectively.

"We are in a time of unprecedented change due to local government reorganisation. The challenge was how my team reacted to change and how they could lead their teams through it. Since this change is imposed and not by choice, it was important to equip them to lead themselves and others through it."

Jackie King

CEO at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

The team was working in silos, and with fast-paced, challenging workstreams ahead, they needed to become more collaborative and mutually supportive. The timing was critical - they needed these skills now, not later.

THE SOLUTION

Jackie commissioned a Leadership Development Programme designed to equip her team with practical tools and deeper self-awareness. The programme included three modules that progressively built the team's capability:

Module 1: Self-Awareness and Understanding The first session introduced the team to Insights Discovery and Motivational Maps, helping them understand themselves and each other better.

Module 2: Flexing and Motivations The second session deepened their understanding of how to flex their styles and recognise what motivates both themselves and their team members.

Module 3: Application to Organisation The final session focused on applying their learning directly to their organisation, resulting in concrete actions like implementing bi-weekly stand-up meetings.

THE JOURNEY

The team's transformation wasn't instant - it required persistence and an open mind.

"Before the modules, the team was intense and cynical," Jackie recalls. "After the first session, they were positive and enthused but unsure what to do with the knowledge."

By the second session, something had shifted. The team became more engaged, understanding motivations and how to adapt their styles. The third session brought it all together, translating learning into actionable organisational changes.

 THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT

One of the most powerful breakthroughs came from overlaying Motivational Maps with Insights Discovery.

"A key lightbulb moment was realising that even people with the same basic preferences can be very different due to individual motivations," Jackie shares. "This challenged the idea that profiles pigeonhole people and helped them appreciate diversity within similar segments."

This revelation transformed how the team understood each other, bringing clarity to their differences and significantly improving collaboration.

 THE IMPACT

Individual Leadership Growth

The programme created lasting behavioural changes in the Leadership Team:

• Increased Autonomy: Leaders are now taking on authority they always had but didn't previously use

• Breaking Down Silos: Team members think beyond their own areas, engaging in more collaborative conversations

• Organisational Awareness: Leaders show greater awareness of how their actions impact the wider organisation

• Equipped for Change: The team is better prepared to handle panic and stress by reflecting on their feelings and motivations

  
  

Organisational Benefits

The ripple effects extended throughout the organisation:

• Improved Communication: The leadership team became more communicative across the organisation, sharing updates through blogs and internal articles

• Staff Feeling Informed: A recent workplace stress survey showed high scores for staff feeling informed about the change - a direct result of improved leadership communication

• Enhanced Readiness: The team is now equipped to adapt their styles and make quick decisions in a fast-paced environment

 RETURN ON INVESTMENT

For Jackie, the return on investment isn't measured in pounds and pence - it's measured in behaviour and capability.

"The return on investment is behavioural rather than financial. The programme has developed more engaged and effective leaders with tools to lead their teams well, which will pay dividends in workforce retention and development over time."

As someone passionate about enabling people to be their best, Jackie wanted to equip her team with leadership tools they could carry forward throughout their careers - especially important as many were early in their leadership journey.

THE PROGRAMMES IMPACT IN JACKIE'S WORDS

"The programme created a leadership team that understands the importance of collaboration and collective achievement. They feel valued and invested in, with developed skills to lead their teams forward effectively. I would definitely recommend this programme to other organisations. It was enjoyable, fun, and deeply impactful on people's understanding of themselves and others. It is not expensive and offers enormous returns in leadership and workforce benefits."

 FACILITATOR FEEDBACK

"It's been an honour to help them build psychological safety and to witness the significant improvements in trust and communication as we've progressed through the modules."

Elaine Gosden CEO & Lead Facilitator, Blue Gnu

PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK

We asked participants 'what made this time valuable?', and they said;

"Bringing team together which rarely happens - was really valuable."

"Understanding myself more, getting to know the leadership team."

"Spending time with colleagues and finding out what makes people tick."

"Clear opportunity to think, discuss and improve interaction with the team.”

“Taking time out to Understand how motivated I am and by what.”

100% said they feel more prepared to implement the upcoming change having spent time on the programme together.

91% said that they found this time very valuable compared to their usual workday.

96% rated the facilitators effectiveness in delivering the session content and engaging participants as 'very effective'.

Interested In Bringing This Into Your Business?

If you would like to explore how combining Insights Discovery and Motivational Maps can help your leaders drive performance, build stronger teams, and align with your business goals — we’d love to chat.

Get in touch to see how we can tailor a programme for your organisation.