Hastings Deering
Building High Performing Teams: Leadership Development
Strengthening leadership, trust and performance through psychological safety
As part of its Leader of the Future initiative, Hastings Deering partnered with Humanology Group to develop leadership capability across all levels through a program grounded in behavioural science and human-centred transformation. The High Performing Teams program combines immersive workshops, practical tools, and storytelling to help leaders translate theory into action, while a 16-week Leadership Toolkit reinforces ongoing behavioural change. Built on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and growth mindset principles, the program transformed how leaders connect, build trust, and drive high performance in complex, dynamic environments.
Challenge
Hastings Deering faced the strategic challenge of preparing leaders to guide teams through complexity and change. Leaders needed the capability to foster collaboration, inclusion, and trust, while holding teams accountable and driving performance. Without embedding psychological safety and growth mindset into leadership practice, team engagement, learning, and innovation risked being constrained.
Solution
The High Performing Teams program integrated three core drivers:
Psychological Safety: Creating environments for contribution, learning, and speaking up
Growth Mindset: Embracing feedback and continuous development
Emotional Intelligence: Strengthening self-awareness, empathy, and relationships
Program delivery: Immersive workshops combining neuroscience and storytelling; 16-week Leadership Toolkit with weekly activities; focus on real-world application and measurable outcomes
Result
The High Performing Teams program created measurable shifts in leadership capability:
· Stronger trust within teams
· Greater openness to feedback
· Increased capability to lead difficult conversations with empathy and accountability
· Higher team engagement, accountability, and performance
WHY IT WORKED
The program succeeded by integrating behavioural science with practical, actionable leadership experiences. By combining psychological safety, growth mindset, and emotional intelligence, leaders developed the capability to foster high-performing, inclusive teams. Embedding these principles into daily practice ensured lasting cultural change, strengthening both human connection and organisational performance.