Our Services

Team Maturing Workshops

Maturity Growth

Team Maturity at Apricot Acumen

At Apricot Acumen, our intention is building wisdom in teams and we understand that the foundation of any wise team is built upon trust. Our Team Maturity services are designed to cultivate this essential element, fostering an environment where open dialogue, effective decision-crafting, and resolute answerability can thrive.

Strategic Trust

The Importance of Trust, Decision crafting and Answerability.

Trust is the foundation of all relationships. As an executive team is fundamentally a network of relationships it is imperative to being intentional about the building of trust. When trust exists, team members are more likely to engage in open dialogue, think, share ideas freely, and collaborate meritoriously. This openness leads to more thoughtful decision-crafting and a stronger commitment and answerability to the collective goals. These are the Sources to the maturing of a wise team.

Our ALT Method

Awareness, Listen, Trust

Our approach to team development is anchored in the ALT framework, which emphasizes:

  • A: Awareness – Recognizing and understanding current behaviors and dynamics within the team.

  • L: Listen – Engaging in active listening to truly comprehend each team member's perspective.

  • T: Trust – Building and nurturing trust to facilitate open communication and effective collaboration.

Our Process

How Apricot Acumen Helps Teams

At Apricot Acumen, our Team Maturing services are committed to transforming individuals into wise teams that drive organizational distinction. By integrating the principles of trust, awareness, and active listening, we support teams in achieving greater cooperation, making empowered decisions that encompass answerability, while leading with wisdom and confidence.

We initiate the process by conducting assessments to gain a deep understanding of each leader's perspectives and experiences within the team. This involves gathering insights through surveys, interviews, and feedback sessions, which are then combined and shared with the team to highlight strengths and identify areas for improvement.

To foster a shared understanding of the team's current operations, we facilitate interactive workshops. These sessions encourage open dialogue, allowing team members to express their views on existing processes, identify challenges, and collaboratively explore opportunities for enhancement.

Recognizing that sustainable change requires ongoing intentional support, we offer team coaching sessions. These sessions focus on reinforcing desired behaviors, improving communication patterns, and strengthening interpersonal relationships, all of which are essential for a maturing team.

Effective decision-crafting is at the heart of wise teams. We employ participatory decision-crafting techniques to ensure that all team members are actively involved in the process. This approach not only leads to more informed and inclusive decisions but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and answerability. 

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Client Testimonial

Perspective and wisdom are a powerful combination, and Derek brings both in a way that is truly transformative. When I first met Derek, his ability to offer an external perspective—one honed through a lifetime of building meaningful and impactful relationships with business leaders in both corporate and not for profit institutions—was profound.

I’ve found it’s easy to become too close to a problem, overanalyse it, or even misdiagnose it entirely. Derek’s approach, grounded in humility and genuine care, has helped me and those in our business step back, see challenges more clearly, and find common ground to move forward. He has a rare ability to draw out the best in people while quieting the noise that often clouds decision-making.

The impact Derek has had—both on me personally and on our business—cannot be overstated. His wisdom, guidance, and encouragement to trust myself have been invaluable, and I owe him a great deal of gratitude.

Multiworks - Alex Crosby (Managing Director)
Client Testimonial

Over the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of working closely with Derek. He is a person of utmost integrity, possessing an intuitive understanding of people that is rare and remarkable. His counsel is imbued with wisdom, and I have always found his advice to be grounded in areas where he has genuine knowledge and expertise. While I may not have always agreed with his perspectives, I have always respected that they reflect his sincere beliefs. Derek consistently encouraged me to trust my own judgment, empowering me to make decisions with confidence.

Mark Elliott, Non Executive Director and Former CEO
Client Testimonial

Over the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of working closely with Derek Linsell. He has provided unwavering support and encouragement as I have navigated various professional roles and personal experiences. Through our relationship, I have developed a heightened awareness of what good leadership looks like and cultivated trust in my decision-making processes. This journey has led to significant improvements in my career trajectory, reflecting the profound impact of his commitment to me with his wisdom and thoughtful action.

Adam Watson, CEO and Managing Director. APA
Client Testimonial

Derek listens deeply and adeptly draws on his crystallised wisdom as a trusted thinking partner, having his timely counsel available really helped empower me find the courage needed to completely reinvent my career and create a purpose-filled life. Through my work with Derek and his encouragement to do my inner-work I’ve discovered remarkable new depths of personal strength and creativity.

Alexander Hayes Griffen
Client Testimonial

Having benefitted from Derek’s insight in helping establish a very productive relationship amongst the senior executive at one organisation, I was pleased to bring him to help at my next two. Derek has a disarmingly simple style that senior executives warm to. He balances this with great insight into how people work and how they can work well in teams. As CEO his reports to me were invaluable in removing barriers to productivity that would never be apparent through the using structural analysis or metrics. He brings great experience to his wise understanding of people.

Emeritus Professor Mike Calford – formerly university Provost and research institute CEO
Client Testimonial

I highly recommend Derek as a trusted advisor and mentor. His wisdom and insight have been invaluable in helping me navigate complex decisions in my professional life. He has taken a genuine interest in me and my family, offering support that goes beyond mere professional guidance. His deep understanding of my career aspirations has enabled him to provide thoughtful and strategic advice, always with my best interests at heart. Above all, Derek is someone I trust implicitly—an insightful sounding board who has helped me think through challenges with clarity and confidence.

Angus Leitch. COO. Veris
Client Testimonial

I have known and worked with Derek for 10 years as a trusted advisor and mentor. His wisdom and insight extends beyond just me as an individual—he has a deep understanding of the organization I have worked for and the people around me. His ability to see the bigger picture while also appreciating the nuances of my personal and professional journey is truly unique. He takes a holistic approach, offering guidance that is both strategic and deeply personal. What sets Derek apart is his genuine interest in me, not just as a professional but as a whole person. His thoughtful support and perspective have been invaluable in helping me navigate challenges and grow with clarity and confidence.

Leigh Petschel. CFO. Port of Melbourne
Next Steps

Ready to lead with wisdom?

Contact us today to explore how Apricot Acumen can support your leadership journey.
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