INSPIRICA – Making a difference: The importance of team development in the third sector

Mark Fryer

We all know what it’s like to be cold. We all know what it’s like to be scared. We all know what it feels like to be anxious. We all know what it feels like to be worried. We all know what it’s like to be alone. Some of us (and more than we appreciate) know what it’s like to live with a mental illness. Some of us will know what it’s like to experience addiction. And a few of us know what it’s like to be homeless. Now, take a moment and imagine ALL of the above is your world right now…

Where do you turn if this is your world? Who will help you? What can you possibly do? You’re overwhelmed by despair, fixated on the next meal - wherever that may come from, and focused on physically and psychologically surviving the next 24 hours.

This is where INSPIRICA does great work on the east coast of America. It has an amazing purpose, which is to:

“Break the cycle of homelessness by helping people achieve - and maintain - permanent housing and stability in their lives."

At ABSTRACT our purpose is to “change peoples’ lives” and this is why, I think, we struck up such a strong connection with Denise Williams, the CEO of INSPIRICA, and her team. We essentially have the same purpose, we’re just serving different clients in different ways.

Even though we had this mutual connection, when Denise commissioned ABSTRACT to help develop her team ‘to be more powerful and more fearless’ to get their work done and develop their ‘diversity of thought and respect for others’, we felt a little daunted. They are a very diverse team and are already achieving great things. ABSTRACT’s typical client is a large corporate operating in sectors like financial services, law, property, construction and local government. Could we really have as much of an impact on such a noble organisation?

I think we did. In fact, I’m being modest to be honest. I know we did from the vibe during the sessions, the engagement during and the feedback after. 'So much so that Denise has given the green light for ABSTRACT to continue to help INSPRICA during 2021.

It occurred to us that there is an important point here….no matter the product or service, whether you manufacture or distribute or both, no matter the sector, no matter the industry; if you “get the right people, in the right environment, exhibiting the right behaviours”, you cannot fail!

Well done, INSPIRICA, keep up the effort and great work. At ABSTRACT we are proud to be associated with such a modern organisation striving to be fit for today’s social objectives.
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