Experiences with [Remote] Team Builder training: ”There’s never a perfect time – so anytime is the right time.”

Dagsmark Petfood had been undergoing the Team Psychological Safety training for a month when the news of a corporate acquisition broke. In hindsight, the training turned out to be exactly the tool needed to navigate such a major transition: Employees gained tools to process the new situation.

Just like people tend to postpone personal life changes, organizations often delay necessary training under the excuse that "now is not the right time."

There’s always something; tight schedules, product launches, or organizational changes. And, in reality, those changes never stop happening.

Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, it's better to start now. As Dagsmark Petfood’s experience demonstrates, times of major change can actually be the best opportunity for psychological safety training.

The goal: learning to talk about difficult topics

The Finnish pet food manufacturer Dagsmark Petfood had just begun the [Remote] Team Builder training when the big news came: Vafo Group had acquired the company.

“Before the acquisition, we had completed the initial survey, the first workshop, and a couple of weekly Learning Minutes. The majority of the training was conducted during the transition. Despite, or perhaps because of that, we achieved truly great results,” says [Remote] Team Builder trainer Outi Perälä.

Before starting the training, Dagsmark had specifically hoped to improve its ability to address difficult and critical issues openly. And what better time to develop this skill than during a major transition?

Dagsmark’s CEO Riikka Koskenohi (as of January 1, 2025, CEO of Prima Pet) also believes that investing in psychological safety is even more crucial during a merger.

“I found the Remote Team Builder training incredibly effective, and we achieved the goals we had set for it.”
– Riikka Koskenohi, CEO, Dagsmark Petfood

What Koskenohi appreciated most was the continuity of the training. She had experienced other training programs where new insights and practices never fully translated into action.

"The microlearning approach of Remote Team Builder has undoubtedly been beneficial because people feel that something has truly changed."

Learning Minutes helped challenge existing work practices

The entire Dagsmark Petfood staff participated in the training; factory workers, administrative personnel, and management, totaling 35 people.

After the six-month training period, feedback was overwhelmingly positive; both for the workshops and the Learning Minutes, as well as for trainer Outi Perälä:

"Outi was great at understanding the audience and responding in a gentle and constructive way that encouraged discussion."
– Reetta Haapasalo, Sustainability Manager, Dagsmark Petfood

According to Haapasalo, the Learning Minutes were accessible and applicable beyond just work life.

"The themes were already familiar, but without the regular Learning Minutes, we wouldn’t have engaged in such active reflection or challenged our own ways of working."

She also heard from employees that the Learning Minutes helped them gain valuable insights:

"They serve as excellent reminders of how each individual can positively impact both their own and their colleagues' job satisfaction and performance."

Training doesn’t add to workload—it eases it

Conducting a training program amid a major corporate acquisition was a positive and energizing experience for trainer Outi Perälä as well.

"The training provided employees with tools to process the transition. Change management is often led from the top down, but through this training, we bridged that gap, ensuring employees were actively involved in the transition process."

Perälä emphasizes that psychological safety training is often exactly what an organization needs when navigating change or uncertainty.

"It’s essential to recognize that this type of training doesn’t add to the workload. It actually helps integrate change and smooths daily operations when an organization has a lot to process."
– Outi Perälä, Remote Team Builder Trainer

If you'd like to read more client experiences, you can find them [here].

If you’re interested in discussing how this training could support your team, send us a message [here]! 🚀