Experiences with the [Remote] Team Builder Training: “We had a clear need to discuss how to work together and how to disagree”
When results from a workplace well-being survey began to decline, Principal Anna Renko decided to take action. The psychological safety training addressed the much-needed themes, and the results turned upward almost immediately.
The role of a principal is not often viewed through the lens of personnel management, yet it is a significant aspect of the job alongside all the administrative and educational responsibilities.
“Schools often have a lot of staff, all under one principal. Personally, I feel that personnel management is where the biggest challenges lie, and it’s the area where I most need training,” says Anna Renko, who has served as the principal of Joensuu Lyseo comprehensive school for 10 years.
Currently, the school has around 450 upper-secondary students and approximately 50 staff members, most of them teachers, but also classroom assistants, a student welfare advisor, and a school secretary. The entire staff participated in the [Remote] Team Builder training.
“I was particularly interested in this training because it focused on the work community. Our well-being surveys have usually shown good results, but there had recently been a slight dip. I wasn’t sure how to address it—and this training felt like the perfect fit,” Renko explains.
The results of the workplace well-being survey showed a clear improvement
The [Remote] Team Builder Team Psychological safety -training, which emphasizes began with an initial assessment and a workshop led by Juho Nenonen. Following this, weekly Learning Minutes were introduced.
Once a week, employees received messages on their devices that covered key themes related to psychological safety, presented with simple examples.
“The Learning Minutes addressed all the important topics. The Minutes themselves are relatively light but designed to spark reflection on one’s own actions,” Renko says. She appreciates how the training emphasizes the importance of each employee and shares the responsibility for workplace well-being among everyone.
About six months after the first workshop, a second session was held to delve deeper into the themes and discuss insights from the Learning Minutes.
“The training has been received surprisingly positively; teachers are not the easiest group to train. But it’s clear that we had a need for these discussions: how to work together, how leadership should function, and how to express disagreements,” Renko says.
Most importantly, the latest well-being survey results show clear improvement—across all areas!
“Of course, we’ve implemented other measures as well, but I’m certain Remote Team Builder training has played a part. We’ve gained excellent tools to enhance and maintain psychological safety.”
Remote Team Builder Psychological Safety Training Provided Insights for Teachers’ Work
Although the primary purpose of the [Remote] Team Builder training was to improve interaction among Joensuu Lyseo’s staff and enhance workplace psychological safety, Principal Renko believes that many teachers are also applying what they’ve learned to their students.
“I absolutely believe and hope so! Every classroom is its own kind of personnel management environment. For instance, the concepts of fostering a sense of inclusion and giving feedback can undoubtedly be transferred to teaching contexts.”
Renko also believes the increased cohesion within the work community, developed through the training, positively impacts interactions with students.
“In schools, we’re constantly thinking about how to handle various practical situations with students. I strongly believe that thanks to this training, it’s now easier for us to present a unified and clear approach to our students,” Renko concludes.
