Opposites attract on Future Leaders programs

Citation

(2010), "Opposites attract on Future Leaders programs", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 42 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2010.03742dab.006

Opposites attract on Future Leaders programs

Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 42, Issue 4

A working relationship developed between two company managers who met through Institute of Leadership Management level 4 and level 5 Future Leaders programs has translated into real benefits for both businesses.

Janet Moody, commercial manager at Wilby Insurance, Halifax, and Chris Georgiou, operations manager at Brookfoot Works Marshalls plc, Southowram, are very different in terms of the work they do and their personalities.

“My work is administrative and service industry, while Chris is operational and manufacturing,” explained Janet Moody. “We are also at opposite ends of the spectrum personality-wise. I am a natural extrovert and Chris is naturally introverted.”

“One of the chief benefits of the course was the blend of people and the networking with people from all walks of life. I was the only one from manufacturing,” commented Chris Georgiou.

“At Wilby we have tended to progress to management positions without any formal training, so it was useful to see things from other people’s points-of-view,” added Janet Moody.

“Working with Chris has been very beneficial. I had wanted to develop an effective way of developing a business plan at Wilby. I learned that Chris had done this at Marshalls and went to see how it worked. We have now applied a similar business plan, which is very different from what we had before. It has resulted in complete reorganization and restructuring of staff. This was entirely due to getting an ‘operational’ viewpoint. Wilby is now offering an administrative-system perspective to Marshalls.”

Both companies have now also developed formal appraisal systems linked into an annual business plan.

“We have 170 employees at our Brookfoot site and already had sets of objectives for specific areas of the business, which are color coded and tracked on a monthly basis, but the course gave me a more rounded view of the objectives and they are now cascaded down more thoroughly. We are now looking for appraisal training and to rolling it out in a more formal way, right down to the shop floor,” explained Chris Georgiou.

From Wilby’s point-of-view, Janet Moody said: “Our business plan was put into place in September. The management team is now looking at 360-degree appraisal and then to cascade that down to our team leaders. All Wilby staff are now taking professional qualifications and we are working towards achieving chartered status for the company.”

“We have both made changes in our own work environments, but what is important is that our directors have ‘bought in’ and supported us,” said Chris Georgiou.

“Ideas flagged up during the course and discussed further over coffee were then taken back into our businesses. We are now more prepared to push our ideas forward. Our new managing director has been prepared to embrace these ideas and, as a result, Wilby has grown throughout the recession,” added Janet Moody.

“Everything on the Future Leaders course could be taken back to the office and shared with at least one member of staff – usually more,” she continued. “The staff started to look forward to my bringing ideas and techniques back. In fact, one member of staff developed so much confidence that she left to start her own business.”

Chris Georgiou continued: “I had no idea what the courses would be. I had hopes and aspirations, but they grew. I learned much more about myself, the people I work with and how to get the best out of them and ensure that they enjoy their time at work. The course took me out of my comfort zone on a number of occasions and created lots of ‘light bulb’ moments. It makes you realize the boundaries you set yourself and gives you the confidence to go beyond them. It is amazing how it really can change you. What you take away from level 4 is tools and systems; level 5 is about putting things into action.”

“They were intense full days of training – not easy but that meant that you stayed focused.”

Action Halifax ran the Future Leaders programs. It operates throughout Halifax, Calderdale and West Yorkshire to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits and community-cohesion projects.