Following the Royal Commission, ANZ Banking Group faced a period of intense transformation and regulatory scrutiny. The organisation needed to strengthen its culture, align leadership behaviours, and create a unified approach to navigating adversity. There was a pressing need to galvanise teams around common goals, reinforce clarity in communication, and build resilience to maintain confidence both internally and externally during a critical time for the financial services sector.
To meet these challenges, ANZ partnered with Lysander to implement a multifaceted culture, leadership, and coaching program. The initiative was designed to foster team cohesion, improve behavioural consistency, and embed a speak-up culture across all levels of the organisation. It focused on developing leadership capability, enhancing self-awareness, and promoting constructive dialogue. The program aimed to create systemic change by influencing mindsets and behaviours, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and regulatory expectations.
The program was delivered through a combination of leadership workshops, coaching sessions, and ongoing engagement across state teams and head office. Leaders were equipped with tools to manage mindset, encourage curiosity, and invite constructive conflict into discussions. The approach emphasised vulnerability and authenticity, enabling richer conversations and deeper understanding among team members. Regular reinforcement of key behaviours, such as above-the-line thinking and clarity in communication, ensured consistency and accountability. Importantly, the program was not a one-off intervention but a sustained effort that permeated all levels of the business.
The program delivered significant cultural and operational benefits. Team cohesion improved markedly, with leaders and employees demonstrating greater self-awareness and openness in their interactions. Conversations became more constructive, with individuals listening to understand and asking deeper questions to gain perspective. A speak-up culture emerged, empowering employees to share feedback and feel valued. Externally, business partners reported noticeable improvements in the consistency and professionalism of ANZ teams, even during challenging market conditions. Internally, a cultural risk audit returned the strongest results ever recorded, validating the effectiveness of the initiative. Ultimately, the program strengthened leadership capability, enhanced organisational resilience, and reinforced a culture that supports better customer outcomes.
In this video Simone Tilley, then General Manager for Retail Broker Distribution at ANZ, highlights Lysander’s extensive expertise in understanding and addressing the specific challenges faced at ANZ and the impact on the organisation through our partnership.
Every great partnership begins with a conversation. Whether you’re facing immediate leadership challenges or planning for long-term organisational growth, we’re here to understand your situation and start co-creating solutions. Get in touch with our team today.