SOME FACTS
For the same period last year, Leadership Programmes are up 41%, Team Building Programmes up 32%, Influencing and Negotiation courses up 22%, and one-to-one Business Coaching up a staggering 56% (a programme for Managers and Executives, is usually a 2 hour session every six weeks). The Business Coaching programme increase represents taking on eighteen new client companies. Why? Organisations realise that training improves staff retention, growth and profit, especially if it is done using established methods that achieve results.

A CURRENT CASE STUDY
Not long ago, a major bank, following the acquisition of a smaller bank, asked Prestbury House to bring together the Managers to get them working effectively together, to plan a strategy for achieving their next years business objectives and thirdly, to develop a leadership strategy for their own teams.

We started with a two-day residential programme to firstly, look at their processes when working as a team of Managers together. Around 30% of the course was spent solving fairly rudimentary problems by using outside exersizes, ie, having to utilise all the team (all the delegates), utilising their skills, communicating, co- coordinating, all with a limited resource and budget, and always up against the clock.

Afterwards we discussed the outcomes, both positive and negative, and where they related to the bank and their individual areas of responsibility. Where specific issues arose, in this case communication and the motivation of staff through a major change, these were discussed in more detail using a structured matrix in syndicates. The final afternoon was spent on a major problem involving a two hour exercise which brought all the learning points of the programme together.

That was Phase One. Phase Two then began. In between Phase One and Phase Two the delegates, back at work, had specific tasks to achieve with their own teams, (i.e. identifying expectations, use of motivational models, improved communication methods). The start of PhaseTwo involved the delegates in making a professional presentation of the outcomes to these specific tasks. We then moved on to new ground, this time looking at various Leadership models and in this case 'Leadership in the modern Banking World'. Ultimately, 4 phases were designed, two at two days and two at one day. Seventy Managers were identified to go through this programme simultaneously, with fourteen Managers on each programme.

Follow up meetings with the delegates in their own working environment, to check and evaluate on the training and the results, were all part of what was provided. And yes, the investment is working. Many of the Managers have reported a stronger confidence, not only in their own skills, but also in their organisation. Team Surveys have identified that their subordinate staff have seen a beneficial difference in their leadership ability. They have also formed a far greater networking between the Managers of two former banks.

It's not 'rocket science', it's just the way we apply established and effective training ideas to the situation. As General Colin Powel said "Don't give me the bullshit, lets get the job done." Can Prestbury House Management Centre help and assist you to get the job done?

Tel : 01242 529533 or E-Mail enquiries@prestburytraining.co.uk

The Prestbury House Management Centre is the sister company to Prestbury House Hotel and Oaks Restaurant. It is independent of the hotel, has its own offices at the same venue and is registered at the same address (Established 1989)