Participants explore what it takes to be an effective leader and manager. A strengths-based approach provides a dynamic platform for participants to achieve greater insight into their own leadership and managerial competencies. Participants also identify ways that strengths can be leveraged and areas for development addressed.

Objectives

• Analyse the work of exceptional managers and leaders, exploring the ways in which their behaviours can be integrated into one’s own leadership style for maximum effectiveness.
• Clarify the requirements of effective leadership within the current business landscape and develop an understanding of what this looks like in practice.
• Explore a model for effective leadership within the context of one’s own 360° feedback results.
• Use a strengths-based approach to reflect on one’s unique contributions as a leader, and how these can be leveraged for personal impact.

Participants are introduced to a values-based leadership framework as they take a deep dive into the relationship between authenticity and effective leadership. This module explores the importance of building a sustainable leadership style upon solid foundations. Participants consider how to effectively synthesise their personal values with their organisation’s to build a value-based culture.

Objectives

• Develop an understanding of what authenticity, integrity and values-based leadership looks like in practice.
• Gain an insight and understanding into personal values.
• Explore the way in which personal values shape leadership behaviours and how leaders can embed their organisation’s values into the everyday behaviours of their team members.
• Assess the degree of alignment between personal and organisational values and explore options for addressing any differences.
• Define a personal guiding framework for adopting a sustainable leadership style consistent with personal and organisational values.

The Team Dynamics module builds on previous modules as participants explore the practical implications of managing diverse and challenging teams. Participants examine the qualities shared by high-performing teams and identify effective strategies to foster cultures that support optimal teamwork.

Objectives

• Understand the processes involved in building a high-performing team.
• Explore the foundations of effective team leadership.
• Assess one’s own team using a High-Performing Teams model and develop an action plan for addressing barriers to team effectiveness.
• Understand how to recognise and re-focus dysfunctional team dynamics.
• Explore the challenges and processes involved in managing a team of individuals who bring unique strengths and development areas.
• Reflect on one’s own behaviours and organisational processes and determine the level of unification between these with the High-Performing Teams model.

The Driving Performance module looks at what it takes to maximise one’s own performance, to create a high-performing team, and to foster a team ethos in which high performance is the norm. This module also covers the techniques involved in coaching others and building individual capability.

Objectives

• Understand the impact of management behaviour on employee engagement.
• Assess one’s performance drivers and identify how one’s motivation and performance fits with that of the team and the organisation.
• Gain insight into the ways in which leaders can motivate and engage their team to exceed performance expectations and to take ownership of their own performance.
• Understand the key principles involved in delegating and managing time and projects.
• Use a model for coaching teams as a mechanism for building capability, engaging staff, and motivating high performance.
• Reflect on the vision and future direction of the organisation, and identify the capability requirements needed to meet current and future business needs.

This module focuses on practical ways to influence at different levels - interpersonal, team and organisational. Participants will explore a range of tactics in theory before applying them at a practical level to their own situation at work.

Objectives

• Identify levers of influence within organisations and develop insight in strategically using these to promote one’s own agenda.
• Introduce a model of influence tactics and understand when different tactics are most effective.
• Develop skills in effectively applying skills in influencing others.
• Gain insight and understanding into the way in which they impact others and examine ways in which to moderate other’s impressions.
• Develop interpersonal skills (including emotional intelligence) to enhance one’s personal impact and presence.

The Personal Vision and Brand module assists participants to articulate their own vision for themselves as a manager and leader. A thought-provoking presentation from an accomplished leader encourages participants to build a brand for themselves. The module concludes with participants committing to taking specific steps in the progression of their leadership development prior to the subsequent coaching session.

Objectives

• Develop an understanding of marketing theory, in particular the purpose and use of branding.
• Apply strategic branding by developing a plan for creating a personal brand.
• Examine the way leaders can market their team to gain support for its initiatives and to attain resources that are necessary to meet team objectives.

This module commences with an exploration of one’s preferred communication style and the impact of one’s style on others. This full day workshop focuses on effective communication at the interpersonal, team and organisational levels.

Objectives

• Explore a range of communication styles and their effectiveness within different teams and operating environments.
• Understand what effective communication looks like.
• Understand one’s communication style and its impact on others.
• Develop skills to enhance one’s communication effectiveness.
• Understand the communication methods available within one’s organisation, and the ways in which these can be leveraged for maximum impact.
• Plan ways to recognise and celebrate great communication in the workplace.

Themes include change in oneself, building adaptability and flexibility, strategic change management, operational change, and overcoming resistance to change. At this workshop, participants will also commence a project that needs to be completed prior to the next residential workshop.

Objectives

• Develop insight into the impact of change in the workplace.
• Explore the personal aspects of change and how a leader’s view of change impacts others.
• Review models for Organisational Change and their application.
• Identify the critical steps in effectively managing change.
• Practice managing both the personal aspects and the process aspects of change.
• Develop an understanding of strategies for dealing with employee reactions to change, including change resistance.
• Understand how to engage others in embracing innovation and change.
• Identify the change management resources and support that can be accessed within the workplace.
• Gain insight and understanding into the key elements of communicating change.

The day involves participants working on scenario-based case studies, using a strategic problem-solving framework. Through this workshop, participants will develop skills in strategic problem analysis and decision-making, taking into consideration the impact of the scenario on individuals, teams and the organisation. Participants also present their project during this session.

Objectives

• Develop an understanding of the leaders’ role in articulating a clear and actionable strategic direction and the key procedures involved in effectively doing so.
• Develop an appreciation for the importance of strategic problem analysis and decision-making.
• Understand and apply a Strategic Problem Solving framework.
• Gain an insight into the key principles for analysing decisions and their effectiveness.
• Understand the way in which problem solving and decision-making link with organisational strategy and operational plans.
• Develop an action plan for introducing a strategic problem analysis and decision making tool into one’s workplace.

At the Management in Times of Crisis workshop, a presentation from a highly regarded executive will set the scene for an interactive debate around change and its impacts. In light of the current economic and environmental challenges, the Management in Times of Crisis workshop is an opportunity for participants to explore their own approach to change and pressure, and how it impacts others. Recent real-life examples of strong leadership under difficult circumstances are also reviewed.

Objectives

• Develop an appreciation of the business context as a perpetually changing landscape.
• Examine the principles for effective management in times of crisis and how this differs from management requirements in good times.
• Identify one’s own response to challenging situations and consider options for developing a more effective approach.
• Examine exceptional stories of leadership during times of crisis and reflect on what leaders can learn from these stories.
• Develop an understanding of how leaders can build a flexible, agile organisation that is able to cope with pressure and setbacks.