High Performing Teams
A one-day workshop from a combined academic/executive-coach team, teaching you social theory and applied techniques for building the positive team culture required to drive top team performance
a UCL Behavioural Insights Hub course
Want to commission this course for your team? Click here.
- Date: 14 October 2026, 9:30am - 4:30pm.
- Price: £775pp, with further discounts available (see full price list further down). Bookings available soon.
- Location: In Person - @UCL, London.
Contact us to enquire or book your place. Prefer a chat? Schedule a call.
Overview:
In this three-part workshop, the UCL Behavioural Insights Hub is teaming up with executive coach Lina Khayatt to provide a deep dive into the social world of groups and teams. Delegates progress from more theoretical content on the human social instinct, the fundamental dynamics and value of social groups and potential pitfalls such as groupthink to highly applied techniques for improving and maintaining team culture and making better group decisions. This latter requires intentional development across multiple dimensions: purpose, processes, relationships, conflict competence, and continuous learning.
Key takeaways:
- Understand social cognition and social dynamics.
- Learn to combat the ever-present problem of groupthink - how can we encourage constructive dissent while maintaining a healthy team culture?
- Develop team foundations, conflict competence and leadership flexibility.
Excellent course. Good to unpick the theory behind teamwork and some great practical exercises that demonstrate how teams can come to better decision making.
The workshop
Part 1 - Human cooperation and social dynamics (Dr Alicia Melis)
We will begin by reviewing key aspects of human psychology that suggest humans are naturally well adapted for teamwork. From a very young age, we develop psychological mechanisms that support collaboration, coordination, and shared goals with others. Yet, effective cooperation is often difficult to sustain in practice. We will introduce the theory of social dilemmas using game theory, focusing on the Public Goods Game to illustrate the dilemma of cooperation—situations in which individually rational, self-interested behaviour can undermine collective success and lead to the collapse of mutual gains. Understanding why this happens is essential for building effective teams. The session will conclude by identifying practical strategies that help promote trust, align incentives, and create the conditions for stronger and more sustainable cooperation in organisations.
Part 2 - Making effective decisions in teams and the perils of groupthink (Dr Stephen Dewitt)
In this session we take the perspective of a team leader who wants to make the most effective group decision. To do this they want to get all the knowledge and relevant information from their team into the open and to encourage constructive dialogue to allow different ideas to compete. Unfortunately, some level of groupthink is always at play in such situations, either fully shutting down valuable voices or just encouraging people to nudge their answers in a socially acceptable direction. Team leaders need to build a culture of psychological safety, which is difficult. In the long run they need to model fallibility, and genuinely welcome criticism. In the short term we present a range of techniques which can be used to get more out of a team.
Part 3 - Building high-performing teams: from purpose to performance (Lina Khayatt)
In this last session, we extend our perspective beyond the team leader to the broader team. We establish team foundations by distinguishing teams from groups, developing shared purpose and a deeper understanding of development stages. We build conflict competence through the Thomas-Kilmann Model’s five approaches and explore shifting levels of listening from defensive to generative. We strengthen learning through feedback models and feedforward techniques. We explore leadership flexibility that both leaders and teams can adapt to context. Finally, we introduce the concept of team coaching through a systemic lens, which integrates all these elements through a process that creates sustainable transformation.
When:
Wednesday 14th October 2026
Subject: Professional Development: UCL High Performing Teams Workshop (1-Day Program)
Hi [Manager's Name],
I’m writing to propose my attendance at the upcoming “High Performing Teams” workshop at University College London (UCL).
Having looked at our upcoming projects regarding [mention a specific challenge, e.g., improving team decision-making / strengthening collaboration across teams / managing complex stakeholder discussions], I believe the behavioural science insights and practical frameworks taught in this course would significantly improve how our team works together and makes decisions.
What makes this workshop different? This workshop combines cutting-edge behavioural science with practical leadership techniques. Delivered by UCL behavioural scientists and an executive coach, it explores the psychology of teamwork, group decision-making, and team culture. I would not only gain an understanding of the science of human cooperation and social dynamics, but also how to apply tools that improve collaboration, decision quality, and team performance.
Direct ROI for [Company Name]: The most immediately valuable part of this course is learning evidence-based techniques for improving group decision-making and team dynamics. I will receive expert guidance from UCL behavioural scientists and an executive coach.
Key Course Modules:
- Human cooperation and social dynamics (insights from evolution, game theory, and cognitive science)
- Making effective team decisions and managing the risks of groupthink
- Building high-performing teams: shared purpose, team development, and leadership flexibility
- Conflict competence and listening techniques for better collaboration
- Feedback and learning frameworks to improve long-term team performance
Logistics:
- Dates: 14 October 2026, 9:30am – 4:30pm
- Location: In-person at UCL, London
- Cost: £775 Note: We can secure an additional 10% discount by joining their mailing list, and there’s also a 10% group booking discount if anyone else would benefit.
- Certification: I will receive a UCL-stamped Certificate of Participation for CPD logging
At the end of the program, I plan to deliver a presentation to the team sharing the behavioural science techniques and frameworks for improving team decision-making and collaboration, so we can apply them across our projects.
I’d love to secure a spot before they fill up. Are you happy for me to proceed with the application?
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Individuals who lead teams, or are members of leadership teams, and who want to be able to:
- Learn how to get more out of their team collectively
- Help their team to make better group decisions
- Get the best contribution from every team member
All attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion.
- Standard fee £775 pp
We offer three stacking 10% discounts:
- Partners & Discounted Sector: £698pp (extra 10% discount included). This includes:
- UCL Alumni
- If you have attended a previous Changing Minds workshop or have completed a BIX project with our students
- Public or third sector
- Small business (<5 employees) - Group booking: Additional 10% off for group bookings of 2+ people. Please contact Pia Horbacki.for further information.
- Mailing List Bonus - If you join / are on our mailing list you get an extra 10% off! (Discount available on the booking page).
Ready to Book? Once on the booking page select the relevant price option.
Course completion: Delegates will be provided with a UCL stamped course completion certificate for CPD logging.
Former attendee: "The course was a pleasure to attend. The facilitators not only shared their vast content expertise with delegates but also demonstrated how scientific insights can be applied to day-to-day work environments."
Former attendee: "Really interesting exploration of the psychology of teams and how to drive more effective decision-making through quite simple changes to habitual techniques in problem-solving and consensus-building."
Dr Stephen Dewitt
Stephen Dewitt (BIH Director) studies how people reason, make decisions and solve problems both as individuals and in groups. He has worked with a large number of organisations in training and consultancy roles, including US Intelligence, HM Land Registry, Southern Water, Santander and Coventry Building Society.
Dr Alicia Melis
Alicia Melis (BIH Deputy Director) investigates the psychology supporting teamwork and prosocial behaviour. She works with children and with chimpanzees to explore how our social skills develop, and how insights from our closest-living primate relatives can inform our understanding of human behaviour.
Lina Khayatt
As a chartered psychologist (BPS) and accredited executive coach (EMCC), I bring together psychological insights, research, and 20 years of industry experience to support clients across a range of sectors.
Whether stepping into a new role, making strategic decisions, or balancing the demands of leadership and life, my coaching provides the space, structure, and challenge needed for meaningful growth.
https://www.lkec.co.uk/
