1. It was a very simple idea – but has been transformational!
As the Director of Central Legal Office (CLO), the 2017 iMatter survey was the second “official “ time my team had participated, although I had been part of the original pilot when the EMT took part and therefore my direct reports had an opportunity to respond.  My role in the process in both 2016 and 2017 was to ensure that everyone in CLO knew about
iMatter and I directly encouraged everyone to respond. The response rate in 2016 was 89% and in 2017 was 91% with EEIs of 85% and 84% respectively.
I am an advocate for iMatter because I think it gives each team an opportunity to sit down together with more focussed results and seek to sort out any issues which may be arising. I also think it is an opportunity for those with a more negative perspective to discover that there are people within their team who see things much more positively and hopefully peers can point these things out with more impact. It is also an opportunity to encourage team members to suggest solutions rather than problems!
One thing that emerged during discussion following the 2016 survey was that the Heads of Department felt that there was no regular opportunity to meet together just as our own team to share matters of concern or matters for rejoicing and that organising these opportunities in the context of busy diaries was just too hard at times.
These dates were already in the diary and the SMT could start at 10.30am instead of 9.30am.  We put this into action and it is one of the best things we have ever done!
Norma Shippin
CLO Director
CLO Management Team
Team of 7 with extremely positive results, it was difficult to find things to put in an action plan!
Why don’t we designate the first 45 minutes of every SMT meeting to a private team meeting of the Heads of department – with no formal agenda.
It’s a safe space to vent and to bring to the table things that are worrying or concerning us.
No deputies attend – if the Head is off then its just the rest of us meet
It was a very simple idea – but has been transformational!