Applied Leadership Excellence Program

This module gives practical solutions to Strategic Planning, the process and considerations for developing Organisational Strategic Plans and subsequent alignment of Operational Plans and Actions. The module provides insights into the organisations Strategic Plan, discusses alignment to Vision and Purpose, and the various stakeholders involved in the development process.

Key topics include:

• Strategic Plan to Operating Plan (Functional plans alignment)
• Core and supporting activities
• Action planning and measuring success
• Assessing current functional plans and Plan development exercise
• Communicating and gaining engagement

This module introduces participants to various Change methodologies and highlights the importance of Change planning and leadership to the achievement of desired Change outcomes. The Leader’s role in Change programs is explored in-depth as is the development and execution of Change Communication plans.

Key topics include;

• Change methodologies and fitness for purpose
• Change planning
• Stakeholder engagement and communication
• Developing Change Communication plans
• Measuring the impacts of Change

This module builds on established communication models to have participants better align their communication outcomes with their intent. Participants develop greater understanding of their audience, and how they respond to and interpret communication. At Executive level, the module includes presenting with impact and Board report preparation.

Key topics include;

• Framing Questions: Learning how to announce the intent of the question to elicit valuable information and foster meaningful dialogue
• Evidence before Judgement: What was considered and prioritised before forming judgments or conclusions
• Inclusive Language: Utilizing language that promotes inclusivity and respects diversity to create a positive and welcoming environment
• Listening with Purpose: Developing active listening skills to understand and respond effectively to others.
  Communicating to Engage and Motivate (Why-What-How): Using the Why-What-How framework to craft messages that engage and motivate audiences
• Compelling Communication Techniques: Enhancing presentation and meeting skills for impactful and persuasive communication

This module begins by developing participants’ understanding of their own and others unconscious bias. The learning then extends to an exploration of emotional intelligence and personal values. This challenging module builds increased respect for the diversity of people in the organisation and generates understanding of behavioral drivers and how to influence others. Any current or past Psychometric tools used by the organisation can be explored and incorporated.

Key topics include:

• Effective Individual Goal-Setting: Learning to set and achieve personal goals that align with professional aspirations
• Self-Care: Emphasizing the importance of self-care practices to maintain overall well-being and productivity
• Building a (Self) Development Pathway: Creating a personal development plan to guide continuous growth and improvement
• Exploring the concepts of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and locus of control, and their impact on personal and professional life

The module uses participants’ own real-time challenges to learn and practice performance improvement techniques. Specifically, participants develop skills to; clearly align performance expectations, appropriately provide feedback, effectively remedy performance issues, and comply with both internal and regulatory employment requirements. Key to the module is the ability of participants to use the tools to address current performance challenges within their team.
Key topics and tools include;

• Performance Improvement discussion model
• Delivering effective feedback
• Aligning thresholds and expectations
• Setting objectives effectively
• Effective disciplinary process

This module assists participants to build an inclusive culture in their team gaining greater contribution and value from each member. Participants learn the six signature characteristics of Inclusive Leaders and develops their ability to demonstrate Inclusive Leadership behaviours. Drawing on the research of Professor Amy Edmondson, the module explores the role of the leader in organisational culture, specifically, the benefits of improved psychological safety and leadership actions to enable successful approach to psychological safety.
Key topics include;

• The value of high Psychological Safety in teams
• Six Signature traits of inclusive Leaders and Colleagues
• Psychosocial Hazards management
• Building Psychological Safety through leadership behaviours
• Dimensions of trust and building a safe and trusting environment

This module provides participants with the skills to effectively coach to high performance. Identifying when effective coaching is the appropriate means to improved performance, developing high-performers more effectively, and reducing instances of over-management are key outcomes

Key topics include;

• The importance and impact of coaching in leadership and responsibilities and expectations of a leader as a coach
• Coaching vs. Mentoring: The differences and appropriate applications of coaching and mentoring and covering scenarios for effective use of each approach
• Identifying Skill Gaps and Motivating Change: Techniques for assessing skills and setting development goals and strategies to motivate team members for growth
• Communication Techniques for Coaching: Effective listening, questioning, and feedback skills and creating a positive coaching environment

This module provides participants with skills to manage risk to the extent of their role, be it identification, developing and executing mitigation and management actions, or monitoring and reporting.

Key topics include;

• The importance and impact of Risk Management to organisational success
• Risk Assessment and Management tools
• Identifying and mitigating risk
• Key aspects and inputs for an appropriate Governance framework
• The Regulatory Environment in which the organisation operates
• The impact of the Regulatory framework on operational and functional strategies and activities

This module equips non-financial leaders with the skills to effectively manage to the extent of their role. Utilising internal frameworks and processes, participants learn tools and strategies to achieve financial objectives through enhanced understanding and confidence.
Key topics include;

• Budget development and forecasting
• Reporting – Board, Management and Project
  Procurement, managing costs, and supplier processes
• Contract management and administration
• Asset Management, financial risk and a brief introduction to GAAP

This module recognises that often leaders are not reflective of the members of the team they lead, either through demographic differences, work history and background, or simply technical skills. The module provides leaders with the skills to create and lead an engaged team with shared commitment to purpose. This module is particularly valuable for leaders of highly diverse teams, leaders new to the organisation and those taking on cross-functional leadership or leadership outside their historical technical roles.

Key topics include:

• Leadership as a Minority: Navigating the unique challenges and leveraging the opportunities that come with being a minority leader
• From Tactician to Strategist: Understanding the shift from executing tasks to developing and implementing strategic initiatives
• Establishing Credibility : Building trust and respect across the organization
• The Two Hats of the Functional Leader: managing day-to-day operations versus long-term strategic planning and vision
• Sensitivity and Inclusion: Cultivating sensitivity towards the experiences of others and promoting an inclusive environment.

The personalized workbook is built in modules during the program with each module resources contributing to the Participants’ skills toolkit. Components include each modules Participant notes, reference articles and Individual Action Plans.

At each workshop, a new module or chapter is added to the Workbook, providing fresh learning materials for discussion during Peer Network Learning sessions.

The workbook is designed for participants to record plans and skill practice to embed their new skills into sustained leadership behaviours. Additionally, the Workbook serves as a reference guide for Participants post completion of the program, with the option to continue to add valuable resources to support development