ER Consultants worked in partnership with a Scottish Public Body to increase the leadership competence of all its managers.  Following a programme of workshops, psychological profiling and 1:1 coaching from ER Consultants, managers reported a greater personal insight and impact into their own, and others', personal styles within the context of leading and managing within the client organisation.

Project Background
The aim of the project was to significantly increase the leadership competence of all managers within the client organisation, following the implementation of a new corporate strategy. The client wanted a programme that would harness individual and collective potential and focus effort towards achieving its aims and objective, while providing managers with the skills needed to help implement recently established values. Specific outcomes sought by the client included:

• aligning behaviours to the values of the client organisation
• focusing effort to achieve its vision and mission
• increasing the emotional intelligence of all senior leaders
• significantly improving the effectiveness of leadership skills
• creating an environment whereby leading by example would become the norm.

ER’s Approach
The programme covered a variety of management grades within the client organisation, ranging from Executive management through to middle management Corporate Management Team (CMT) and the Senior Management Team (SMT). Initially ER Consultants met with key stakeholder and conducted initial workshops to agree the competency framework that would inform the 360 feedback exercise. Following the creation of the competency framework, a 360 feedback exercise was carried out alongside psychological profiling and 1:1 coaching. This was combined with a workshop schedule that included:  Emotional Intelligence; people management; Communication through Change; relationships, and collaboration.

Client/Consultant Relationship
We worked in partnership with the HR Manager and Corporate Services Director, and attended regular reviews with the executive team.

Success Factors / Challenges
CMT/SMT individuals anecdotal reports indicate greater personal insight and impact into both their own and others’ personal styles, strengths and weaknesses, within the context of leading and managing people.  Managers have embraced their programme and feedback has been positive. Challenges included ensuring high-level commitment to the program.

Results / Benefits
It is still early days following the completion of the development program however there are already a number of benefits emerging. Many CMT/SMT members reported a significant benefit from the coaching program in particular, and a notable theme to emerge from the managers program was a desire to develop internal coaching capability, in light of the programs success. Early indicators point to the desired programme outcomes being met, including increased emotional intelligence, aligning behaviours to the values of the client organisation, and improved leadership skills.

For more information contact:  Martyn Sakol