Increasing strategic effectiveness through collective leadership

Challenge/Opportunity

To create collective leadership amoungst 8 Directors responsible for separate divisions within the organisation rather than leading in silos. The team’s prior context:

• Numerous restructures which resulted in change fatigue and resistance

• Decreased appreciation of the work within the wider agency

• Continued pressure around funding

The goal was for the team to effectively lead the strategy and its people through an uncertain landscape and take on a new approach.

Solution

The design worked towards the divisions’ vision and was intentionally iterative to flex and adapt to the client’s landscape as the engagement progressed.

The engagement comprised of:

• Set up session for each Director with the Executive Director and Coach

• The Leadership Circle Profile (TLCP) 360 

• 1:1 individual TLCP debrief with the Coach

• 6 x one-hour individual coaching sessions per Director

• 3 x half-day team off-site workshops at beginning, mid-way and end of program

• Wrap up session for each Director with the Executive Director and Coach

Result/Outcome

For the Individual

Increase individual leaders’ self-awareness using The Leadership Circle 360 Profile and continued 1:1 coaching.

Greater understanding of patterns and habits of their thinking.

For the Team

Leader-led engagement, where the Executive Director held a strong vision for the agency and held the team to account. Higher levels of trust were achieved. Team shifted focus to the whole organisation rather than on individual divisional needs. 

For the Organisation

Change in operating mindset through intensive team sessions based on adult stages of development.

The team now operates collaboratively rather than competitively and is able to deliver more strategic outcomes.

“IECL was successful in unpicking the barriers that limited us as a team and putting us in a safe place to reveal our vulnerabilities.”