New Programs

This quarter has seen Talent Solutions deliver a series of leadership development programs for the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a national basis.

Two programs were specifically designed and developed to meet the needs of front-line and middle-level leaders. Both programs were designed to be highly experiential and involve a high level of participant involvement, reflection and planning. Both were also designed to be highly practical and focus on skills acquisition with real life scenarios based on high quality research by our instructional team.

To maximise opportunities for participants to transfer learning to the workplace, the five days of program content were divided into three modules facilitated over a three-month period.

Achieving Results through People (ARTP)

The Achieving Results through People program aims to provide first level leaders (supervisors) with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to ‘get things done’ within their work teams. Highly practical, the program has a strong focus on participant centred learning activities to maximise learning transfer and ensure content relevancy to the day-to-day supervision issues participants face. Some of the topics explored in the program are:

• Supervising others
• Situational Leadership
• Emotional awareness and management
• Team roles and the stages of team development
• Managing change
• Managing performance

Emerging Leaders (EL)

Designed as a progression from the ARTP program, with a strong continuation theme, the EL program was designed for middle managers who may be responsible for complex or strategically important projects, external relationships or large and complex teams. The course aims to develop ‘best practice’ leadership and management skills as well as building awareness of working cross functionally and utilising a project management approach. To evaluate the current capabilities of participants, a 360-degree feedback tool (the Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire) is also utilised. Some of the topics explored in the program are:

• Power and politics
• Managing and leading projects
• Gaining commitment
• Leadership strategies for success
• Influencing for client commitment
• Understanding organisations

Both programs have been very well received by participants with comments like:

Achieving Results Through People:

• First course I didn't fall asleep in. Material and exercises were really interesting. I will highly recommend to others to do it.
• Presenters very confident and maintained the interest of the group. Impressive.
• The eagle has landed! Finally a practical course that hits the mark and addresses our management issues.
• On the whole a very professional and beneficial course. One of the best training courses I have attended, both content and presenters. Overall much better than anticipated.
• The content was more relevant than a lot of other courses. Practical exercises always a good thing.

Emerging Leaders:

• Enjoyed the course more than I thought I would.
  Excellent presenter – he really knows his stuff. Very credible!
• Course has given me some tools that I will need to consciously apply back in the workplace. I acknowledge that I’m very process focused and need to actively work on developing some leadership skills.
• Days 4 and 5 were very challenging – but rewarding. Some things that I have subconsciously acknowledged were made more explicit/defined (e.g. political behaviours/motivations), very helpful!