Inter-Company Leadership Groups

Background

The economic backdrop to an organisation’s performance and the market dynamics that surround it are often in a state of flux. An obvious consequence of this is that strategies require continual review and adjustment, as the organisation moves forward, to ensure optimum positioning.

What is perhaps less obvious – indeed often ignored – is that these changing strategies bring with them significant changes to the roles of those in senior executive positions which may lead to the need to adapt personal styles and behaviours. Leadership styles that are highly successful in one situation may be inappropriate when circumstances alter. For example, a business in ‘transition’ requires a very different style of leadership to one in ‘crisis’.

The CPS inter-company leadership group helps senior executives to learn to align their natural leadership style with the requirements of the working environment by encouraging them to learn from, and with, their peers in other organisations.

Our Approach

Away from the stresses of organisational life, the inter-company leadership groups provide a powerful forum in which senior executives can develop their thinking and explore both personal and organisational aspects of leadership. Members are encouraged to bring current business issues, in which they are personally involved, to be examined by the group. In this supportive environment, they learn to challenge and probe each others’ thinking. Additionally, each member learns to provide relevant feedback on the issues raised by fellow members.

Each group comprises executives from a variety of backgrounds with a wealth of knowledge and experience. The powerful element in these groups is the collective wisdom which prompts individuals to approach common leadership issues in entirely new ways through a better understanding of their impact on others. In a confidential setting, this method of group learning provides a unique opportunity for each participant to explore his or her leadership style in order to maximise their effectiveness in their current position. Individuals will be encouraged to evaluate and modify their attitudes and behaviour in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

The networking opportunity is an important aspect of these groups which frequently continue to meet on an informal basis beyond the formal life of the group.

The CPS Framework

To optimise the learning opportunity, each group is restricted to a maximum of six members. Groups meet at CPS’s offices every month for half a day over the course of six months.

Prospective members are invited to meet with us, prior to joining, to discuss the range of issues they would like to focus on during the learning group activity and to ensure an appropriate mix of participants.

The inter-company leadership groups are facilitated by members of the CPS team who have specific experiential group skills.