The leader of today has greater challenges than ever before in terms of unlocking human potential in their organisation and delivering results. This programme will help you achieve those aims and help you initiate and manage change more effectively. In particular, it will help you to: Develop an effective strategy to achieve your business goals Understand the role of emotional intelligence in leadership Take away a practical leadership tool-kit Develop a more dynamic approach through enhanced strategic creativity Broaden your understanding of the corporate culture to increase your influence within it Improve your persuasion and influencing skills to achieve your strategic goals Learn the key functions of strategic leadership In today’s world, one of the main aims of the leader is to develop the capability of the organisation to handle change and the challenges of the future even if those challenges have yet to be discovered. Leading in the organisational setting is becoming increasingly difficult because of the increase in regulation in all sectors and the risk of litigation. All organisations need leaders who can handle these challenges effectively, in particular the complexities of organisational life. At the same time, people who feel they are led effectively from the top find it easier to cope with and perform under higher pressure levels and therefore achieve the ultimate business goals Who should attend? This programme has been specifically designed for senior managers and those middle managers who are on the fast track to senior positions. It is suitable for both public and private sector individuals and all senior managers, executives and directors who understand the benefits both personally and professionally of developing strategic leadership skills. Practical training methods The course leader uses a broad range of learning techniques including short input sessions, individual development exercises, group work and case studies to provide a strong mix between practical training and giving a sound foundation of strategic leadership theory. The course provides you with a unique opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt and benefit from the observations and perceptions of the other course members. Leadership is less about doing and more about being. Day One Introduction and objectives The need for strategic leadership The roots of leadership How thought on leadership has developed Current perceptions on strategic leadership The leadership/management debate People and process issues The integrated approach to deliver results Levels of leadership The capabilities required at the strategic level The difference between strategic leadership and strategy Qualities and capabilities of strategic leaders Illustration through case studies Review of strategic capability Developing specific leadership qualities A review of strategic capability using case study examples Developing an approach to leadership Reviewing the traditional and current approaches to leadership CASE STUDY 1: Developing a leadership strategy Understanding leadership processes at all levels Applying the leadership hierarchy Analysing the process PRACTICAL EXERCISE Demonstrating the theory of leadership processes in practice Leadership and emotional intelligence The relationship between leadership and emotion The essence of organisational climate PRACTICAL EXERCISE Participants will work on an exercise to illustrate the theory of emotional intelligence in practice Day Two Review of day one Understanding strategic creativity Examining the psychological aspects of strategic thinking Mind mapping and other approaches to creative thinking Developing a creativity toolkit CASE STUDY 2: A strategic leadership challenge Developing a new vision and plan to transform an organisation to face future challenges based on a real-life scenario Developing strategic leadership capability A review of current approaches Understanding the behavioural approaches Developing a contingency approach Understanding corporate culture The structural aspects The behavioural aspects The human aspects How leaders can change corporate culture Developing a toolkit for change Understanding the cultural web The link with emotional intelligence CASE STUDY 3: Analysing leadership techniques This practical case study illustrates how the strategic approach and the application of appropriate leadership techniques including ‘split screen ability’ work in a real-life scenario Performance aspects at the strategic level Developing vision, goals and objectives Creating corporate identity and alignment Working with individual influencers Effective strategic influencing skills The characteristics of effective persuasive leaders Understanding methods of persuasion Profiling others Building the top team The nature of the top team Accepting diversity and challenge The key functions of strategic leadership Putting these into action Personal leadership planning Identifying tomorrow’s leaders Practical approaches The challenges for the future. Programme closure Action logs Next steps Feedback
Agile Release Plans: In-House Training While many Agile frameworks provide guidance on a focus on value and iterative development, many do not explain how that value is delivered to the customer. Release Plans have become an accepted and common practice to bridge the gap between the Product Vision and the Product Backlog (Agile requirements). In this course, you will be provided with an introduction to Agile and to Scrum, the most utilized Agile framework. You will also learn how the Vision, Roadmap, and Charter help to establish the Release Plan. The goal of this course is to equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to build Release Plans to ensure you deliver the most value to your customers. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Recall the Scrum framework elements (roles, events, and artifacts) Examine the benefits of Agile Develop a Product Vision and Roadmap Create an Agile Project Charter Prepare a Release Plan Write user stories to support a Product Backlog Foundation Concepts Introduction to Scrum Scrum Overview Agile Benefits Product Definition Business Goals Product Vision Product Roadmap Agile Project Charter Product Scope Project Risks Release Deadlines Sprint Durations Team Norms Release Planning Release Plan Process Select Stories and a Release Date Product Backlog User stories Building the product backlog Product Backlog Refinement Transitioning to the Scrum Team
The Agile Project Manager Change isn't coming, it's already here. The project environment is becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Project management and project managers must transform and evolve in order to keep up with these changes. Agile has been a disruptor in the field of project management, having over 20 years of successes and benefits to organizations that have adopted their frameworks. The Agile frameworks have proven themselves to be more adept in dealing with this uncertainty. But Agile isn't just about following a different way of working. What do you need to learn, do, and become in order to continue in the current and future environment? It is a powerful combination of knowledge, competencies, and mindset. In an increasingly complicated project environment, this course provides participants with the knowledge needed to not only survive but thrive. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Evaluate the changing project environment and the needed knowledge, skills, and behaviors Demonstrate innovative project manager competencies of leading change, servant leadership, and focus on value Utilize Lean and Agile principles to maximize value and improve project performance Construct a hybrid Agile model that is unique to your project Assess your role in Business Agility as an Agile Project Manager Getting Started Introductions Workshop orientation Expectations Foundations Recap: What is Agile? A changed project environment The future project manager Agile Project Management Competencies Focusing on value Championing change Servant leadership Coaching / mentorship Facilitation Lean and Agile Principles Optimizing flow Making things small Continuous planning Just-In-Time requirements Visualizing work Hybrid Agile Considerations Considering a Hybrid Approach Examining Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Approach Selecting Waterfall / Agile Roles, Practices, and Techniques Reviewing Three Hybrid Scenarios Constructing the Hybrid Project Implementing Agile Pitfalls and Concerns Agile in the Organization Business Agility
A powerful program for teams to participate in together in order to: Develop high-performance teamwork Work together to achieve team goals Assume responsibility and accountability Handle challenges through team communication Create mutual trust, support, and collaboration
ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve: In-House Training The ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan, and Improve course is based on the ITIL® 4 Strategist Direct, Plan, and Improve candidate syllabus from AXELOS. This course is based on the ITIL® 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve IT exam specifications from AXELOS. With the help of ITIL® 4 concepts and terminology, exercises, and examples included in the course, candidates acquire the relevant knowledge required to pass the certification exam. This course provides the practical skills necessary to create a 'learning and improving' IT organization, with a strong and effective strategic direction. It was designed to provide practitioners with a practical and strategic method for planning and delivering continual improvement with necessary agility. It covers both practical and strategic elements, making it the universal module that is a key component to both ITIL® 4 Managing Professional and ITIL® 4 Strategic Leader streams. What You Will Learn At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Understand the key concepts of direction, planning, improvement Understand the scope of what is to be directed and/or planned and know how to use key principles and methods of direction and planning in that context Understand the role of GRC and know how to integrate the principles and methods into the service value system Understand and know how to use the key principles and methods of continual improvement for all types of improvements Understand and know how to use the key principles and methods of Communication and Organizational Change Management to direction, planning and improvement Understand and know how to use the key principles and methods of measurement and reporting in direction, planning, and improvement Understand and know how to direct, plan, and improve value streams and practices Course Introduction Let's Get to Know Each Other Course Overview ITIL® 4 Certification Scheme Course Learning Objectives Course Components Course Agenda Exercises Case Study: Axle Car Hire Case Study: HandyPerson on Demand Exam Details Core Concepts of DPI Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Basics of Direction Basics of Planning Basics of Improvement Other Core Elements DPI through Service Value Chain and Guiding Principles Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives DPI of the SVS DPI of Guiding Principles Role of Direction in Strategy Management Key Terms Covered in the Module Introducing Strategy Management Developing Effective Strategies Implementation of Strategies Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Managing Risks Making Decisions through Portfolio Management Directing via Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Introduction to Assessment and Planning Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Core Concepts of Assessment Conducting Effective Assessments Core Concepts of Planning Assessment and Planning through VSM Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Introducing VSM Developing Value Stream Maps Knowing More About VSM Measurement, Reporting, and Continual Improvement Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Measurement and Reporting Alignment of Measurements and Metrics Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators Continual Improvement Measurements and Continual Improvement through Dimensions and SVS Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Measurements for the Four Dimensions Continual Improvement of the Service Value Chain and Practices OCM Principles and Methods Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Basics of OCM OCM throughout DPI and Service Value Chain Resistance and Reinforcement Communication Principles and Methods Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Basics of Effective Communication Communication with Stakeholders SVS Development Using Four Dimensions Key Terms Covered in the Module Module Learning Objectives Organizations and People in the SVS Partners and Suppliers in the SVS Value Streams and Processes in the SVS Information and Technology in the SVS
Virtual Agile Teams: In-House Training Agile teams are a must in this world of intense competition, marketing demands, and changing expectations. Global virtual teaming has become a necessity as organizations become increasingly distributed, with suppliers and clients actively engaged in joint projects. Agile Teams now work across geographical, organizational, and cultural boundaries to deliver solutions and services to global users. Distance and differences may amplify the effect of issues and factors that are relatively straightforward for co-located Agile teams. This workshop delivers practical concepts and techniques that participants will start using immediately with their virtual Agile teams. The goal of the course is to enable you to successfully execute your preferred Agile or Scrum methods in a virtual project team environment. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the characteristics of a virtual team and how they differ from a co-located team Build an effective virtual Agile team using a Team Charter approach Develop Release Plans, including prioritizing user stories, with a virtual Agile Team Construct a Sprint plan, including effective user story estimates, virtually Execute a Sprint, including essential Agile or Scrum ceremonies, virtually Conduct effective virtual meetings in an environment supportive of Agile and Scrum methods Foundation Concepts Agile Mindset and Values Agile Benefits and Methods Scrum Overview Co-located vs. Virtual Teams Forming Virtual Agile Teams Exploring Virtual Leadership Focusing on Virtual Agile Leaders Developing a Virtual Agile Team Charter Meeting Team Challenges in a Virtual Environment Planning Releases with a Virtual Agile Team Planning releases overview Estimating user stories Prioritizing user stories Setting release parameters Getting consensus on the release plan Planning a Sprint for a Virtual Project Sprint Planning Overview Confirming Sprint Scope with Virtual Agile Teams Developing a Sprint Delivery Plan for Virtual Agile Teams Running a Sprint in a Virtual Environment Self-organizing a Sprint for a Virtual Agile Team Using Scrum tools in a Virtual Environment Conducting End of Sprint Meetings in a Virtual Environment Iterating as a Virtual Agile Team Creating an Environment for Success Piloting a virtual Agile team Creating an Agile-friendly virtual environment
SAFe® Agile Software Engineering: In-House Training The introduction of Lean-Agile and DevOps principles and practices into software engineering has sparked new skills and approaches that help organizations deliver higher-quality, software-centric solutions faster and more predictably. This workshop-oriented course explores foundational principles and practices and how continuous flow of value delivery and built-in quality are enabled by XP technical practices, Behavioral-Driven Development (BDD), and Test-Driven Development (TDD). Attendees will learn proven practices to detail, model, design, implement, verify, and validate stories in the SAFe® Continuous Delivery Pipeline, as well as the practices that build quality into code and designs. Attendees will also explore how software engineering fits into the larger solution context and understand their role in collaborating on intentional architecture and DevOps. What you will Learn To perform the role of a SAFe® Agile Software Engineer, you should be able to: Define Agile Software Engineering and the underlying values, principles, and practices Apply the Test-First principle to create alignment between tests and requirements Create shared understanding with Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Communicate with Agile modeling Design from context for testability Build applications with code and design quality Utilize the test infrastructure for automated testing Collaborate on intentional architecture and emergent design Apply Lean-Agile principles to optimize the flow of value Create an Agile Software Engineering plan Introduction to Agile Software Engineering Connecting Principles and Practices to Built-in Quality Accelerating Flow Applying Intentional Architecture Thinking Test-First Discovering Story Details Creating a Shared Understanding with Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Communicating with Models Building Systems with Code Quality Building Systems with Design Quality Implementing with Quality
Building High-Performance Teams: In-House Training This course pulls together the most current and popular theories and writings on this complex topic and presents this amalgamated view in a highly interactive workshop and activity-based approach. Students will understand and have the skills required to build and participate in high-performance project teams and will possess the insight to proactively affect change within their respective organizations by guiding the existing culture to one that promotes high performance. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Define a team and describe the optimum team size for effective performance Describe characteristics and guiding behaviors of high-performance teams Describe the major elements of each development stage in two distinct models Recognize cultural barriers in achieving high performance List the attributes of a high-performing corporate culture Assess your own corporate culture Discuss corporate leadership as a factor in building high-performance project teams Describe the three A's of selecting team members State three leadership responsibilities Describe leadership responsibilities, styles, and roles List and describe the eight components of the team charter model for building high-performance teams Foundation Concepts The Nature of Teams Characteristics of High-Performance Teams Understanding Team Development Stages of Team Development - Model 1 Stages of Team Development - Model 2 Designing a High-Performance Culture Corporate Cultures Corporate Leadership Establishing the Attributes of High Performance Choosing the Right People Team Effectiveness Team Leadership The Team Charter Model
If you want to improve your or your team ability to lead a team successfully, feel free to check out my Training course focusing on the keys to success to effective Leadership.