8: The Hedgehog Theory for Enhancing Team Performance

In this episode of Seismic Sessions, hosts Rachael Rowe and Gemma Livermore are joined by Zarina Ward, Global Chief People Officer at Verian, and Andrew Salmon, Director at Alpha FMC. They discuss team building in Financial Services, the concept of 'hedgehog teams,' and how to combine diverse skills to enhance team performance and drive business success.

Show notes

• Tremors: Traditionally, sales and marketing teams within financial firms were hierarchically structured and functionally siloed. Specialists worked in isolation, creating both disconnection and reduced productivity. This resulted in a lack of collaboration, high resource consumption,  and unclear performance metrics. Advances in technology were frequently overlooked by these teams, limiting their scalability. Combined with a generational shift toward a more flexible, collaborative, and interconnected working environment, these constraints emphasised the need for a more integrated and diverse approach to team organisation and skill development.

• Epicentre: The industry has recognised a need to focus on aligning the strengths and passions of employees with the needs of their roles to create more motivated teams. The hedgehog theory, in particular, prioritises the creation of different skill ‘spikes’ within a team to enhance collaboration, improve job satisfaction, utilise diversity, increase efficiency, and ultimately lead to better overall performance.

• Aftershocks: Moving forward, firms need to engage in more open conversations about individuals' goals and their future progression within the team and wider business. Teams should create learning strategies that offer employees more flexible career paths, focusing on developing their desired skill sets. This approach will foster true diversity of talent within teams. Recruitment heads should, therefore, keep an open and curious mind when hiring, basing decisions on the dynamic range of skill sets available rather than those that fulfil more outdated, rigid requirements.

Jump into the conversation:
[00:01:57] Traditional team structures
[00:04:45] Generational shifts in work preferences
[00:07:35] The hedgehog theory
[00:07:35] Diversity and inclusion in team building
[00:11:33] Modern approaches to team building
[00:15:06] Technology enablers
[00:17:05] Evolution of cultural intelligence
[00:25:20] Continuous learning and loyalty
[00:35:25] The future of team building and embracing Hedgehog Teams