Leaders who employ strategic thinking are better able to meet the needs of their organizations. In this module, participants will learn the progression from an operations mindset to a strategic mindset and how to implement a strategic plan. Participants will also explore the link between the leadership strategic mindset and the organizational culture. When aligned, the leader creates more buy-in, motivates both their managers and their front line employees, and leverages teams and individuals in order to increase the profitability of the organization.
For successful company growth, organizations have to change and innovate. Change, however, is an individual internal process. When understood, this impacts how change is implemented. Because leaders initiate or are involved in most of the organizational changes, it is imperative they understand this process and their role in its implementation, as well as, their role in supporting their managers through the change. In this module, participants learn the emotional effects of change, how to develop organizational plans to implement change, how to establish an effective meeting and communication process, and how to coach their managers in the process. When a leader can develop empathy for the individuals affected by change, they are better able to build a plan to effectively implement the change, increasing trust, reducing turnover and assimilating the change faster.
Communication is the number one skill all organizations rely upon at all levels. Leaders are role models for effective communication within their organizations. In today’s tight labor market, leaders need to employ a diverse set of communication skills to understand and be understood. In this module, participants will use DISC communication insights to learn how to use behavior styles to better communicate with individuals both inside and outside the organization. Leaders will learn where communication may derail during stress or conflict and how to effectively navigate those situations. In addition, leaders will learn how generational mindsets affect their communication and the communication of their teams. When a leader understands their communication styles and the styles of others, they can adjust their style to best communicate with their audience helping to reduce turnover, coach and develop their managers, and develop profitable partnerships for the organization.
Negotiation is reaching agreement that best meets the needs of all parties. Leaders who develop this skill are masters at conflict resolution within and outside their organization. In this module, participants learn the steps to effectively negotiate and manage conflict. They will learn how to apply Emotional Intelligence to better understand their own emotions, and those across the table. These foundational skills are crucial to leaders, in order to engage in a discussion on how to transfer the learning and support of the development of this skill to their managers. When leaders can effectively negotiate, manage conflict and coach their staff to do the same, they build a culture of mutual trust and respect. These values translate into increased retention and profitability for the organization.
As the economy and workforce shifts, becoming agile in interviewing, hiring, onboarding and coaching employees is essential in order to stay in business. Leaders need to strategically employ these skills when bringing new talent onboard, but also need to coach their managers to do the same. In this module, participants explore strategies to attract, engage, retain, and promote quality staff. Participants will discuss strategic succession planning models to assist them in their organizations. They will also review behavioral interviewing and onboarding best practices. When a leader is able to understand their staffing needs, they are better able to attract, engage, and promote talent to meet the organization’s needs today and in the future, thus growing the company, increasing retention and empowering their team to do the same.
Holding employees accountable is easy to ignore when understaffed or in a seasonal business, but when performance management is lacking it can affect all sectors of the organization. In this module, participants discuss the benefits and costs of performance management. They will learn the importance of setting clear expectations and follow through. Participants will discuss the role of the leader as it pertains to accountability in the organization, where they excel and where there are opportunities. Finally, they create an action plan to address these opportunities. When a fully functioning performance management system is in place, such as clear expectations, established career progression opportunities, and effective performance reviews, leaders can focus their energy on organizational growth. Companies with strong performance management systems see reduced turnover, increased buy-in to the organization, and increased customer satisfaction.
Financial competency is a crucial piece of the business planning and financial projection process. In this module, participants review the profit and loss statement to better understand the financial health of their organization. They will learn how different actions and decisions impact their organization’s profitability and how to identify and analyze trends for opportunities. When a leader understands how to utilize their financial reports, they can make informed operational decisions that affect the profitability and future of the organization.
In this module, participants will pull together the knowledge of all the lessons learned in all modules and apply them in case studies and activities. They will work in small groups to develop a strategy and plan for a fictitious organization. The expectation is that each person contributes to the solution. These solutions will be shared and discussed with all participants.
