Frequently Asked Questions

Team Talk meetings need to be held on a planned basis four time per year. If you are a manager who will be delivering a Team Talk make sure that you are aware of the Team Talk timetable (link to timetable) and plan your Team Talk meetings around this. Please be aware that the cascade of Team Talk should be completed within two weeks of the briefing process being issued to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Ideally between 4 and 15 people. If you are part of a very large team you may need to look at the way you structure team briefings. Perhaps you can delegate responsibility to deputies/supervisors who could deliver a brief to a smaller group of team members? Discuss this with your line manager if you’re in any doubt.

Even though staff are geographically dispersed it’s still likely that you will meet with them at least once a month for a team or operational meeting. If this is the case you could try carrying out your Team Talk at the same time i.e. before or during the operational team meeting.

You should make sure that you make the distinction between Team Talk and the operational meeting so that attendees are clear what is going on.

You should endeavour to ensure that the Team Talk takes place within the two week timescale outlined on the Team Talk timetable. This may mean that you need to rearrange your team/operational meetings to coincide with this timescale. Preferably the meeting should take place in person, but where this is not possible you could hold a virtual meeting. This timescale has been set in advance to help you plan your meetings. 

Try to arrange your Team Talk at a time when the majority of your team can attend. If however there are members of the team who can’t leave their post you could look into arranging cover for half an hour so that they can attend. If this is not possible, you may have to brief these members of staff separately.

You should make sure that those who are unable to attend the Team Talk still receive the information which was discussed and are given an opportunity to contribute or ask questions. This may mean that you have to speak to them individually when they are back at work. You should try to do this as soon as they are available so that the briefing cascade is completed.

With any luck your team will give you some useful feedback and make some valid suggestions during your Team Talk. Fill in the online feedback form and try to seek the answers to any unanswered questions and report back to your teams as quickly as possible so that colleagues do not lose faith in the process. 

The feedback received from across the University will be sorted into themes and this feedback will be presented within the Feedback and Outcomes page.