Insights Discovery in Action

At NatCarbon Africa, our Integrated Project Team (IPT) is driving the Spekboom Restoration Project to new heights, thanks to the Insights Discovery training. Held in September 2024 and repeated in May 2025, this program equips team members to explore and discover more about themselves, learn to recognise and appreciate others’ differences, adapt their behaviours for effective interaction, and take action to apply these insights in practice.  

The course begins with prework, where each participant completes an online assessment by answering a series of questions; this data is processed behind the scenes to generate a personalised profile, revealed on the first day of training. The objectives are to assess the collective strengths and challenges of the team, discuss effectiveness through an engaging model, and agree on focus areas and next steps for development.  

As Carl Jung, whose philosophy inspires this approach, said, “There is no cure or improving of this world that does not begin with the individual himself” – a princples that resonates with our mission to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded land through personal and team growth.  

The training began with the IPT’s initial session in September 2024, laying a foundation for collaboration. Participants explored personal styles through four colour energies: Cool Blue, Fiery Red, Earth Green, and Sunshine Yellow and learnt how these shape daily interactions with team members. The Insights Discovery course proved vital, encouraging honest self-reflection and openness among team members. This vulnerability fostered deeper understanding, improved communication, and unlocked individual and collective potential.  

Research from the session, backed by The Gallup Organisation, shows self-aware teams achieve a 50% higher success rate and 25% improved productivity, a metric our investors and partners can appreciate as we scale efforts.   

As the Spekboom project expanded, the May 2025 session integrated new team members and adapted to evolving roles. Conducted over two days with the same enthusiasm, it featured practical exercises like the Pentagon game, where teams solved problems together, revealing areas for growth such as communication and focus. The first day welcomed new members not present at the September 2024 training session, while the second day united the full team for group reflection, enhancing collaboration. The training session empowered each team – nursery, support services, tech & carbon, and others – to delve into the four pillars of the Insights Team Effectiveness model (Focus, Flow, Climate, and Process). By assessing where improvements were needed in Focus, Flow, Climate, or Process, these teams pinpointed key development areas. This exercise not only unified each group’s understanding of its strengths and challenges but also reinforced their collective role in driving the Spekboom Restoration Project forward.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Owen Henderson, whose expert facilitation brought this program to life with insight and energy. His guidance has inspired our teams to grow and collaborate effectively, reflecting our dedication to nurturing talent and advancing our mission. With this foundation, NatCarbon is poised to build on our successes, driving the Spekboom Restoration Project with renewed purpose. Stay tuned for future updates as we continue this journey together. 

Article by Leyann Basilico