Building Confidence and Culture at Imperial College London

The Department wanted to strengthen how senior leaders and staff engaged with students and colleagues, particularly around sensitive or difficult issues. There was a need to build confidence and competence in handling these conversations with openness, clarity, and empathy. All while supporting a culture of respect and positive engagement across a large, diverse academic community.

1. Positive Communication Programme
   • We designed and delivered interactive workshops on positive communication using Emotional Intelligence (EQ) .
   • Leaders explored their own EQ profiles (EIP3), reflected on real communication challenges, and developed strategies to improve self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management.
   • Action learning sets and peer support helped embed the learning, giving leaders tools to sustain positive change.
2. Fostering a Culture of Positive Engagement
   • Building on the success of the workshops, we co-designed an agile change process.
   • This included stakeholder group sessions, surveys, and focus groups across five new communities in the Department.
   • We facilitated open conversations to co-create shared expectations, codes of conduct, and clearer “ways of working” for staff, students, and postdocs.
   • Insights from these sessions informed departmental strategies to enhance culture, communication, and inclusion.

• Leaders gained confidence and practical tools to handle sensitive conversations more effectively.
• Teams reported stronger psychological safety, better communication, and improved ability to “speak truth to power.”
• The Department established a shared framework for respectful behaviours, clearer expectations, and more positive engagement across staff and students.
• The work has evolved into a broader cultural shift; embedding new habits, stronger connections, and a foundation for long-term change.