Careum, as an important stakeholder in education for the Swiss healthcare sector, is in a constant process of change in order to adapt to the new demands of the market. Collaboration within the teams and cross-divisional cooperation is the decisive factor in shaping a successful future at Careum. Under the leadership of CEO Stefan Spycher, Careum's management team recognised the need for a solution that would not only measure employee satisfaction or involve a one-off workshop, but would also enable teams to work together successfully on an ongoing basis and establish a sustainable culture.

During his time at the Federal Administration, Stefan Spycher experienced a survey solution and workshops that were used every two years and were considered state of the art. Despite its progressive nature, this tool led to certain challenges. It revealed dissatisfaction among employees, but it often remained unclear what exactly the causes of this dissatisfaction were. The employees' responses raised questions and it was not always clear whether these responses reflected specific problems or were merely general signals. In order to address these ambiguities, the administration organised workshops. These were used to understand and interpret the results of the feedback instrument. This involved a great deal of effort, which resulted in few lasting changes.

According to Stefan, Moodtalk was identified as a more suitable alternative in this context. In his view, Moodtalk differs from other tools in its ability to collect feedback in shorter cycles, facilitate immediate discussions in teams and implement solutions directly in the teams. Teams are empowered to develop independently to ensure successful collaboration.

The introduction of Moodtalk at Careum was characterised by its unique flexibility, allowing each team to find their own rhythm in using the tool. "They all work with Moodtalk now and have their own rhythm of how often they use it," explains Stefan. This adaptability ensured that the tool was not just a top-down mandate, but a customisable solution that the teams could adopt and integrate according to their specific needs.

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The introduction of Moodtalk had a significant impact on the team dynamics at Careum and fostered an environment where open dialogue became the norm. Stefan observed: "It's a cultural intervention at team level. For example, we talk to the management team every four or six weeks about how we are doing and how we can improve our collaboration." This regular, structured communication helped to prevent potential problems and maintain a positive team atmosphere.

One of the main advantages of Moodtalk, as Stefan points out, is its ability to uncover broader organisational problems and involve everyone in the change process. "When it comes to bigger issues, something emerges naturally in Moodtalk and then comes to the top of the organisation," he said. For example, during the focus event in summer 2023, Careum was able to build on the data from Moodtalk in a targeted workshop with all employees within 45 minutes and work out specifically how the subjective workload at Careum can be reduced. What was possible in 45 minutes with Moodtalk would otherwise take weeks or months. This feature of Moodtalk enabled the Careum management to hold targeted discussions that led to sound decision-making and strategic problem-solving.

For Stefan Spycher, Moodtalk was more than a feedback mechanism; it was a tool that aligned perfectly with his leadership philosophy. "For me as CEO, it's a great tool to develop the culture," he said. His enthusiasm for Moodtalk stemmed from its ability to bring about rapid, positive change in the company culture and made it a key part of his strategy to foster a participative, responsive work environment.

Stefan advocates Moodtalk not only at Careum, but sees the potential benefits for a wide range of organisations. "It's a simple but captivating idea. People meet and talk about collaboration at certain regular intervals," he says. His belief in Moodtalk's ability to improve team dynamics and communication makes it a recommended tool for any organisation looking to foster an engaged and empathetic culture.