Frequently Asked Questions
Leadership Development
Leadership development is a structured process that enhances the skills, behaviours, and mindsets required for effective leadership. In today's rapidly changing work environment, strong leadership is essential for driving organisational success, improving employee engagement, and navigating uncertainty. Research shows that organisations investing in leadership development see 25% better financial performance and significantly higher employee retention rates.
The most critical leadership skills include communication (prioritised by 45% of UK organisations), emotional intelligence, adaptability, inclusive leadership, and the ability to lead hybrid teams. We also focus on compassionate leadership, creating psychological safety, and managing change and uncertainty—drawing on insights from thought leaders including Brené Brown, Amy Edmondson, and Simon Sinek.
Studies show that for every £1 invested in leadership development, organisations realise an average return of £7, with executive coaching delivering up to 580% ROI within the first year. Benefits include improved employee engagement (29% increase), higher productivity (20% performance increases), and stronger retention (94% of employees stay longer at companies that invest in their development).
Yes, we specialise in working with universities and understand the unique challenges facing the higher education sector. We deliver tailored leadership programmes that address the specific needs of academic and professional services staff, helping leaders navigate budget constraints, organisational change, and the complexities of university environments.
Team Building and High-Performing Teams
High-performing teams share clear communication, strong collaboration, shared goals, mutual trust, and psychological safety. Drawing on research from Patrick Lencioni, Daniel Coyle, and John Amaechi, we help teams leverage diverse strengths, embrace constructive feedback, and maintain high levels of engagement whilst building clarity around roles and healthy conflict resolution processes.
Psychological safety—the belief that you can speak up, take risks, and share ideas without fear of judgement—is fundamental to team effectiveness. Teams with high psychological safety are more innovative, more engaged, and more resilient. Using Amy Edmondson's research, we help organisations create environments where people can openly admit mistakes, engage in honest conversations, and take ownership of outcomes.
Team building activities are often one-off events focused on connection and fun, whilst team development is a strategic, ongoing process that builds capabilities, improves communication, and aligns teams with organisational goals. At Agar, we integrate both approaches—creating engaging experiences that deliver lasting developmental impact through experiential learning.
Effective team development for hybrid teams focuses on building trust across distances, establishing clear communication protocols, fostering inclusive practices, and ensuring all team members feel valued regardless of location. We design programmes that strengthen virtual collaboration skills, reduce proximity bias, and create shared experiences that unite distributed teams.
Insights Discovery
Insights Discovery is a powerful psychometric profiling tool based on the psychology of Carl Jung. It uses a simple and memorable four-colour model (Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green, and Cool Blue) to help people understand their personality preferences, communication styles, and behavioural patterns. The tool takes approximately 20 minutes to complete online and generates a detailed personal profile.
Insights Discovery is particularly accessible and practical for workplace application. The four-colour model is easy to remember and immediately applicable, creating a common language that teams can use long after the initial training. It's widely recognised in UK organisations and is especially effective for improving communication, building team cohesion, and developing leadership skills.
The four colours represent different personality preferences: Fiery Red (direct, determined, results-focused), Sunshine Yellow (enthusiastic, sociable, creative), Earth Green (caring, supportive, values harmony), and Cool Blue (analytical, precise, detail-oriented). Everyone has all four colours, but we each prefer some over others. Understanding these preferences helps us adapt our communication and work more effectively with colleagues.
Absolutely. Insights Discovery is highly effective for leadership development as it helps leaders understand their natural style, recognise potential blind spots, and develop the flexibility to adapt their approach for different team members and situations. It's particularly valuable for developing emotional intelligence, improving delegation, and building more inclusive leadership practices.
Motivational Maps
Motivational Maps is an ISO-accredited diagnostic tool that measures what motivates individuals and teams. It translates feelings into data through a 12-minute online questionnaire, revealing a person's key motivators, their current level of satisfaction, and actionable strategies to increase engagement and performance. The tool identifies nine different motivators across three clusters.
Motivation directly impacts performance, wellbeing, and retention. Unlike personality assessments that measure relatively fixed traits, Motivational Maps measure current motivational states, which change over time with life events and circumstances. Understanding what truly motivates people enables leaders to create targeted strategies that boost engagement, reduce turnover, and improve productivity.
The nine motivators include: the Defender (security and stability), the Friend (belonging and teamwork), the Star (recognition and appreciation), the Director (power and influence), the Builder (money and material rewards), the Expert (expertise and mastery), the Creator (innovation and creativity), the Spirit (freedom and autonomy), and the Searcher (meaning and purpose). Each person has a unique blend of these motivators.
Absolutely. Insights Discovery is highly effective for leadership development as it helps leaders understand their natural style, recognise potential blind spots, and develop the flexibility to adapt their approach for different team members and situations. It's particularly valuable for developing emotional intelligence, improving delegation, and building more inclusive leadership practices.
Whilst Insights Discovery focuses on how people behave and communicate (personality preferences), Motivational Maps reveals why people make the choices they do and what drives their engagement and satisfaction. The two tools are highly complementary—Insights shows the "how," and Motivational Maps reveals the "why." Using both provides a complete picture of team dynamics.
Employees who feel understood and whose motivational needs are being met are 50% less likely to leave an organisation. Motivational Maps helps managers understand what truly drives each team member, enabling them to tailor roles, rewards, and development opportunities accordingly. This personalised approach significantly improves engagement and retention.
Working with Universities
Yes, we work extensively with UK universities and understand the current difficulties including budget constraints, redundancies, cost-saving measures, and the need to deliver more with fewer resources. Our programmes are designed to support university staff through these challenges, building resilience, enhancing leadership capabilities, and creating cultures of collaboration and innovation.
Yes, we design flexible, high-impact learning solutions that deliver measurable value whilst being mindful of budgetary pressures. Our programmes help institutions retain and develop talent, maintain morale, and build resilience during periods of uncertainty—ensuring your investment in people development continues even during challenging times.
About Agar Management Consultancy
We specialise in leadership development, team performance, and organisational culture transformation. Our core services include building high-performing teams, impactful and compassionate leadership training, creating psychologically safe workplaces, developing coaching cultures, navigating change and uncertainty, and building resilience. We also provide executive coaching for leaders and managers, using evidence-based psychometric tools including Insights Discovery and Motivational Maps.
We work extensively with universities across the UK, supporting higher education institutions through periods of transformation and change. We also partner with public sector organisations including NHS trusts like Devon Partnership NHS Trust, local authorities such as Cornwall Council, government agencies like the Met Office, and international corporations such as the Bank of China.
Our name, Agar, reflects our commitment to creating the right conditions for people to flourish—just as agar provides a nutrient-rich environment for growth in science. We combine evidence-based approaches with practical application, drawing on thought leaders including Brené Brown, Amy Edmondson, Daniel Goleman, Stephen Covey, Simon Sinek, Susan Cain, Erin Meyer, Daniel Coyle, Patrick Lencioni, John Amaechi, and Matthew Syed. We focus on sustainable culture change, not just one-off training events.
We're based in Exeter, England, and deliver training throughout the UK. We work both in-person and virtually, offering flexibility to meet your organisation's needs. Our team of 7 staff members, supported by experienced self-employed associates, enables us to scale our delivery whilst maintaining quality.
Specific Training Topics
Absolutely. Psychological safety—the belief that you can speak up without fear of negative consequences—is fundamental to high-performing teams. Drawing on Amy Edmondson's research, we help organisations assess their current culture, understand the barriers to psychological safety, and implement practical strategies to create environments where people feel safe to innovate, challenge, and learn.
Yes, helping organisations and their people navigate change is one of our core specialisms. This is particularly relevant for UK universities and public sector organisations facing transformation. We combine change management theory with resilience-building practices, helping leaders communicate effectively during uncertainty and supporting teams to adapt and thrive through transition.
Yes, we believe that embedding coaching skills throughout an organisation creates a culture of continuous learning and development. We train leaders and managers in coaching techniques, helping them move from directive management to coaching conversations that unlock potential, build capability, and enhance employee engagement and retention.
We integrate inclusive leadership principles throughout our work, drawing on research from thought leaders including Brené Brown on vulnerability and courage, Susan Cain on understanding different personality types, and Erin Meyer on cultural differences. We help leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued and all team members can contribute fully.
Practical Information
Yes, we provide one-to-one executive coaching for leaders and managers alongside our group training programmes. Our coaching approach helps leaders develop self-awareness, navigate complex challenges, and enhance their leadership impact. We can design blended solutions combining coaching and training to maximise development outcomes.
Yes, we offer flexible delivery options including in-person workshops, virtual sessions, and blended approaches. We've delivered effective development programmes across all formats and can tailor our approach to suit your organisation's needs, budget, and geographical distribution.
Programme duration varies based on objectives and scope. Short workshops can be delivered in 1-2 days, whilst comprehensive leadership development programmes typically run over 3-6 months to allow time for learning, application, and sustained behavioural change. We work with you to design a timeframe that fits your needs and maximises impact.
We measure success through multiple indicators including employee engagement scores, team effectiveness assessments, retention rates, productivity metrics, and qualitative feedback. We also track behavioural changes, improvements in communication patterns, and the team's ability to achieve strategic objectives.
With the right approach, organisations can see measurable improvements within months. Immediate benefits include increased self-awareness and enhanced communication skills. Longer-term impacts such as improved team performance, higher employee engagement, and reduced turnover typically emerge within 6-12 months of consistent development activity.
Getting Started
Contact us through our website at www.agarmanagementconsultancy.co.uk for an initial conversation. We'll discuss your organisation's challenges and aspirations, and design a proposal tailored to your needs. We offer complimentary initial consultations to understand your requirements and ensure there's a good fit with your organisational culture and objectives.
Yes, we believe in creating lasting change rather than one-off events. We offer follow-up sessions, coaching support, and refresher workshops to embed learning and sustain momentum. We're committed to ensuring that development investments deliver long-term value for your organisation.
We work with organisations of all sizes, from small teams to large universities and companies. Our approach is scalable and adaptable, whether you need development for a single team of 10 or a leadership programme for 100+ managers across multiple departments.
Yes, we're happy to provide references and case studies from organisations we've worked with, including universities, public sector bodies, and corporate clients. We can also arrange conversations with existing clients where appropriate.
Need a custom solution?
Every organisation is different. We don’t believe in a ‘one-size fits all’ approach and so ensure that our solutions are truly bespoke and tailored to what you need.