OMG x PHD x Volkswagen

Background

In a fast-paced, cross-functional environment, the Volkswagen Passenger Team, in partnership with PHD and OMG, recognised the need to strengthen collaboration, build trust, and unlock high-performance teamwork. Through Strengthscope®, the teams enhanced self-awareness, improved communication, and embedded a sustainable, strengths-based approach to working together – laying the foundations for more connected, effective, and energised collaboration. 

The Challenge 

The Volkswagen Passenger Team brings together Volkswagen’s in-house marketing teams and agency partners from PHD and OMG, spanning Performance, CX, Brand, and Digital disciplines. 

With multiple teams, diverse working styles, and varying cultural backgrounds, building cohesion and alignment was critical to success. The team faced a common but complex challenge: 

How can we maintain and enhance team effectiveness, trust, and collaboration across such a large, multi-team, cross-agency environment? 

Leaders identified that unlocking individual and collective strengths would be key to fostering deeper connections, enhancing communication, and enabling high performance. 

Our solution

In collaboration with Strengthscope, Volkswagen, PHD, and OMG embarked on a strengths-based development programme designed to drive self-awareness, build stronger relationships, and embed effective collaboration across the team. 

1. Playing to Your Strengths
   • Interpreting individual Strengthscope® reports
   • Identifying personal strengths and performance risks
   • Strengths-sharing to enhance understanding and collaboration 

2. Playing to Your Team’s Strengths
   • Reviewing the StrengthscopeTeam™ report and Peak Performing Team Pathway
   • Exploring how individual strengths fuel collective success
   • Open, honest team conversations to build trust and cohesion
   • Reinforcing psychological safety as a foundation for high performance 

3. Embedding Strengths into Everyday Collaboration
   • StrengthsPortal® ‘Know Your Strengths’ course for all team members
   • Strengths-sharing exercises integrated into meetings and check-ins
   • Sub-team StrengthscopeTeam™ reports to sustain the approach

Outcome

The Strengthscope® programme delivered measurable results across key areas of team effectiveness: 

• 71% reported high confidence in understanding and applying their strengths
• 85% improved their ability to recognise performance risks
• 86% felt confident applying strengths to achieve shared goals
• 51% increased their awareness of colleagues’ strengths, improving collaboration 

Beyond the data, the programme unlocked honest dialogue, strengthened relationships, and created a shared language of strengths that teams continue to use in their daily interactions.

Testimonials 

“Working with Strengthscope has enabled us to identify where our strengths lie as a team, as well as individuals. This was a new approach for us, and one where I needed to bring almost 60 people on the journey with me.

When we all came together, after we all had our individual reports, we took the opportunity to work as a team to identify factors that could influence change in behaviours to make us collectively, more successful. The format of the session which Claire ran for us enabled everyone to be open and honest, using online systems to capture feedback and actions in the room. Since the group session in January, we have now spent a lot of time reflecting on the changes needed for us grow and the learnings we now have will enable more of this development. We have started to see some real progress from this in our day to day practices, as well as supporting some of our bigger strategic initiatives.

I have recommended Strengthscope to a number of colleagues and friends, as I have personally found the whole process from beginning to end invaluable.”

Laura Ayers, Brand Marketing Manager at Volkswagen

“Strengthscope was such a useful and enjoyable experience and a great opportunity to bring together all teams. The session gave us real insights into each other’s strengths and tasks that might not be our natural go-to (never a weakness!), allowing us to open up conversations we’d never had before and discuss work passions and strengths across teams. Claire did a brilliant job running each of the sessions, her style adapting as we went and making sure everyone felt heard and importantly taking the time to ensure that each area was understood. Since the training, understanding our different styles has helped us work better together and play to each other’s strengths. I’d wholeheartedly recommend Strengthscope to any team wanting to build trust, connection, and more effective ways of working.”

Chalya Dent, Client Partner at PHD