Top Team Dynamics in a Downturn

It was great to host Dr. Peter Shepherd, who shared fascinating insights from his doctoral research on top team dynamics in professional services during a period of upheaval and economic downturn. His ethnographic study, conducted at a management consulting firm, revealed the powerful, and often concealed, impact of anxiety and unconscious defences on leadership behaviour and business performance.

A key finding was the chronic stress partners can face, caught between pressure to succeed and primal fears of being overwhelmed. Organisational “social defences,” though initially protective, can paradoxically amplify anxiety and fracture internal relationships. He found that junior staff often felt abandoned and overworked, their concerns unheard, within a system that inadvertently perpetuated inequalities.

Peter also explored leadership challenges during downturns, noting that leaders often struggle to act cohesively, with individuals tackling problems in isolation. The unwritten elements of organisational culture prove difficult to address. However, increased diversity and a willingness to challenge the status quo can foster more open self-assessment.

There was also an engaging discussion about the commodification of workplace well-being initiatives, which can sometimes mask deeper systemic issues and how leadership’s moral responsibility is actively to process uncertainty, rather than allowing anxiety to be internalized by employees. Creating genuinely safe spaces for critical thinking is paramount, as unchecked anxiety inhibits organisational learning.

Looking ahead, Peter predicted shifts in professional services within five years, driven by demographics, AI, evolving client expectations, and geopolitics. He anticipates a different operating model, moving towards more collaborative approaches despite current competitive reward systems.

It was a truly thought-provoking session, underscoring the need for deeper understanding, empathy, and courageous leadership in navigating the complexities of organisational life during turbulent times. Many thanks to Peter for sharing his invaluable insights!

You can see the recording of the pop-up below!

About Peter

Dr. Peter Shepherd is an academic and independent management consultant specialising in group dynamics. His work is shaped by the influences of systems thinking, psychoanalysis and organisational anthropology. He is a full member of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the RSA and a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD.

His business career has included spells with Roffey Park, Ashridge and London Business School. He also served with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Peter holds a Bachelors degree in European Drama from Leeds University, a Masters of Science in Organisation Development from Salford University, a PG Cert in Positive Psychology from Case Western Reserve University and a professional doctorate in Advanced Research: Consultation and the Organisation from the Tavistock Clinic.

Outside his work, Peter is a Senior County Referee for the Sussex FA.

You can find and connect with Peter on LinkedIn here.