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Supporting Resilience and Openness to Change
During Organisational Restructure
Reflections from WR Partners:
The changes that we have noticed since this session has taken place are that people are more aware of their reactions to certain situations and how to “check-in” with themselves to ensure they are responding in the most effective way.
The Chimp Management Model is still relatively new to many of our staff, but we are already noticing that employees are more receptive to change and what that could look like, especially with having an open mind.
Annie Bolton
People & Culture Advisor
About the Organisation
With over 120 years in the business, WR Partners is a firm of dedicated accountants, business advisors and tax specialists, committed to enhancing and protecting their clients’ financial position.
The firm takes a forward-thinking and dynamic approach, working closely with individuals and businesses to understand their specific needs, challenges and aspirations. Rather than seeing themselves solely as accountants, they position themselves as growth partners, creating bespoke strategies that support each client’s long-term success.
The Challenge
A number of team members had previously attended an event featuring a Chimp Management Mentor, and the ideas shared had stayed with them.
When planning their annual conference, the organisation wanted to include an external speaker who could offer employees something practical and meaningful to take away. This was particularly important as the firm had recently introduced a new, more service-line-led structure — a significant change for both the business and its people.
The key challenge was to support employees in managing change well, building resilience, and staying open-minded as the organisation moved through this period of transition.
The Approach
As part of the annual conference, Dean Coomer introduced the WR Partners’ team to The Chimp® Model, with a specific focus on change, resilience and high-performing teams.
The session explored how change is a normal part of life and work, and how our response to change can make a significant difference. Dean helped the team understand that some initial responses may be emotional and that recognising and managing these responses can support clearer thinking and more effective action.
The session was designed to be practical and relatable, helping employees connect the ideas to their everyday working lives and the changes taking place within the organisation.
The Impact
Following the session, the organisation began to see early signs of The Chimp® Model becoming part of how employees think about change. While the ideas were still new to many of the team, the session gave people a simple and accessible way to understand their responses, particularly during periods of transition or uncertainty.
The focus on change and resilience helped employees reflect on how they react in different situations, and how taking a moment to check in with themselves can support a more helpful response.
The team also valued how Dean brought the theory to life in a way that felt engaging, practical and relevant to their industry. For employees, it was important that the session offered ideas they could relate to their everyday work, along with realistic tools they could begin to apply.
