Outcomes
Managers and supervisors at all levels will be better able to assist their organisations achieve their mission by being leaders who can:
- articulate vision, mission and goals and achieve results with and through others;
- establish leadership and teamwork concepts that are understood, accepted and practised from the top to the bottom of the organisation;
- develop an inquiring and learning organisation; and
- through sound people skills create emotional resonance in teams which results in satisfied and creative employees who readily accept challenge and respond positively to constructive change.
Some of the leadership associated services we provide are:
1. The capability to award, through our training and in association with a Registered Training Organisation, Statements of Attainment in Front Line Management Units 402A, 403A and 404A in the Australian National Training Authority Business Services Training Package. Pre-course and on-course criteria have been met during training with WMC Fertilizers. Post-course action learning projects are being developed separately.
2. In conjunction with one of our Associates, Greg McMahon, Principal of G. M. McMahon Consultants, we have developed the capability to provide organisational leadership effectiveness surveys and a 360 degree developmental feedback instrument that are directly related to our Functional Leadership Model, and can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of our clients.
The bottom line, irrespective of type or purpose of the organisation, will be greater productivity and cost effectiveness, and for commercial enterprises, enhanced return on investment.
Our Training Methodology
Our methodology is designed to provide practical, hands-on, relevant training that you won't find in any university or college.
We believe in the following adage: Experience cannot be learnt; it must be undergone.
We firmly believe that learning through doing is the best way to develop leadership skills. We therefore employ experiential learning methodology for the majority of our training and coaching activities, and workplace action learning for followup projects and programs.
Our leadership training courses are holistic in nature and residential. While we believe that leadership and management are different, we are convinced that while not all managers make good leaders, the best leaders are also credible managers. Our courses therefore include management skills as well as 'people skills'. Related subjects are, for example, leadership and teamwork theory, planning and organising, problem solving and decision making, leader communication, assertive behaviour, delegation, coaching and counselling.
For the most part we 'front load' learning experiences by challenging participants to theorise as to best methods and practice they might have been taught, have experienced, or observed. We then place them in situations, both indoors and outdoors, that challenge them to put the theory into practice. The results of the activity are then analysed through constructive and supportive discussion and the key lessons for the leader, team members and the team as a whole are identified.
Most importantly, the next step is to have participants relate the lessons identified to their own work places.
At all stages the lessons that emerge are validated in relation to the theories examined at the beginning of each section of the particular program.
Followup or continuation training is based on the application of action learning principles to actual workplace issues. With the support of senior management, participants undertake meaningful projects in the workplace that often result in significant relevant and useful work outcomes.
Because our balanced approach to leadership development focuses on learning through doing, both theory and practice are examined in the cultural context in which the activities take place, and are discussed in the relevant national language as well as in English. This means that Western theory can be applied, analysed and related to participants' circumstances, irrespective of the nature of their cultural background.
It is also vital that the learning is relevant to the needs of our clients whether they be from commercial, government or community focused groups. The interaction between and impact upon the three key areas affecting people - commerce, society and the environment - form the framework for our learning activities. The accompanying model illustrates our learning methodology.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL
PROGRAM OUTLINES
We now also provide coaching in the workplace to individuals or small groups to develop appropriate personal attitudes, behaviours and practical leadership skills. The coaching, which is a powerful alliance focused on personal and professional development, includes subjects such as: understanding leadership theory and practice; building and maintaining effective teams; communicating; building trust and good relationships; motivating; problem solving and decision making; coaching and counselling others; delegating; dealing with difficult people; and providing effective feedback. All learning is directly related to the realities of the workplace environment and culture.
Our coaching can be purpose-designed to address particular issues of concern and participants receive a comprehensive Reference Book that contains confirming précis and useful tools for workplace application.
The types of services we can provide are, in outline:
A leadership awareness day as part of, for example, a strategic planning retreat.
Individual coaching in leadership skills.
Residential programs tailored to your needs (minimum seven people for two days).
Attendance by individuals on two, three or four-day generic residential leadership programs.
Half-day, one-day or two-day teambuilding programs with leaders and their teams.
The programs that produce the best outcomes for a mix of participants from different organisations are our four-day
Leader Action Programs. These are intensive live-in generic learning experiences that cover:
Operational ideas on leadership – that is, shared ideas on leadership that people and organisations have put into practice.
Operational ideas on motivation.
Decision-making and leadership styles.
The skills of leadership.
Extra emphasis is placed on trust, delegation, idea generation, communication, teambuilding, leading change, and leading through the generation gap.
Value is added by:
Coaches who all have extensive experience at operational and strategic management within both public and private organisations.
Personal feedback to each participant. This benefit includes indications of preferences for leader action held by individuals.
A participant-to-coach ratio of 7 to 1 or better.
The programs are highly participatory and have only a small lecturing component. Leadership is learned in activities carefully designed to ensure a steady, readily acquired insight into its complexities.
Outcomes and Benefits to Individuals and Organisations:
Leaders who have accepted an unusual and difficult challenge and have developed confidence in their problem solving and decision making ability to deal with difficult situations;
Leaders who know how to use their leadership skills to manage and lead change;
Managers who know how to lead people rather than just manage or supervise them;
Leaders who know how to create a relaxed, enthusiastic and motivated workplace resulting in more efficient and productive teams;
Fewer interpersonal workplace conflicts resulting in improved staff retention and reduced recruitment costs; and
An overall outcome of added value to the bottom line.
These residential programs are conducted in locations such as Paluma near Townsville, The Horizon at Mission Beach, Cedar Creek Lodges inland from the Gold Coast, and at Jamberoo Valley Lodge in NSW.
Programs that are purpose-designed to meet specific organisational needs are also conducted at these locations, or at others agreed with our clients.
Developing the 'Hard Edge' This one-day Program is designed to assist leaders deal with some of the most difficult leadership issues they will encounter. Included are discussions, role-plays, case studies and experiential activities that address matters such as: confronting difficult issues; dealing with difficult people; being decisive; handling pressure; and dealing with interpersonal conflict.
Participants bring some of their most difficult issues to the Program and leave with an Implementation Plan for their resolution.
For leaders who wish to review and continue their learning in the company of their peers. These two or three day executive Programs bring together experienced people to review and reflect on how effectively they lead and to learn from each other. The content is scenario-based and designed to extend both leadership and management skills, particularly in the area of strategy development.
Teambuilding
We also conduct tailored teambuilding programs in which we facilitate self-discovery of strengths and weaknesses that are then related to the benchmarks of high performance teams. Methods of increasing performance outcomes are identified and highlighted through experiential activities and team members are encouraged to make personal and group commitments to improve performance.
The Leadership Academy provides consulting services to assist organisations develop a 'Unified Leadership Culture'. Leadership Key Results Areas and associated Key Performance Indicators are identified in conjunction with Senior Management and HR Staff, and are tailored to meet the needs of the organisation. The KPIs are directly related to the key functions that must be carried out by management and supervisory staff, thus closing the loop with the leadership model used as the developmental framework in our Leadership Training Programs.
Leadership performance evaluation of KPIs is carried out through self and 360 degree appraisal, or by a traditional superior/subordinate approach if that is preferred.
We will also assist organisations develop purpose-designed Coaching or Mentor Programs and will help identify and coach coaches and mentors as required.
We have assisted Rotary by conducting a Rotary Youth Leadership Award Program also at nominal administrative cost.
One of our commitments was to provide at the request of the Catholic Education Office and at no cost, basic leadership and teambuilding training for 30 young school captains from Catholic schools in the North and Western Queensland areas. Some comments from the participants were:
"Thanks for your unique and enjoyable lessons in leadership! (lots of fun)"
"Thanks, we will be able to use these skills in everything we do."
"Thanks heaps for your inspirational words and thoughts on leadership - it was awesome."
We have trained on company leadership programs (at administrative cost only) aboriginal staff from organisations such as Centacare Mount Isa, who were generously sponsored by the then WMC Fertilizers Pty Ltd Queensland Fertilizers Operation at Phosphate Hill. We are prepared to offer this training to other companies that engage our services.
We also accept Lifeline staff when vacancies are available. The fees for Lifeline are at a special low rate.
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