In partnership with a leading Business School
Aug 21 2009 By Alastair Gilmour, The Journal
Philosophy challenges and develops leaders
At Newcastle Business School the Executive Development Centre has a core philosophy relating to authenticity that supports senior leaders in their movement to a more authentic position through developing a deeper understanding of self.
Fundamentally we are creating “leader shift”. We create the conditions that enable leaders to identify their core personal values and determine how they impact upon their thinking, feeling and identity as a leader. We explore motives, goals, emotion and enable leaders to become more balanced in their understanding of their core strengths and limitations and work with them to determine how much of self they wish to reveal to their people.
Our philosophy energises, challenges and develops senior leaders. This is not traditional Executive Development. Working with leaders through this process enables them to develop a greater level of self awareness, self belief and the ability to listen to their intuitions coming from the unconscious where the core values reside. We don’t breed good instincts we enable leaders to tap into and learn to hear their own natural intuits.
The Executive Coaching process enables a deep level of understanding and the philosophy also pervades all of our senior leader interventions. The shifts are particularly profound. For example a CEO who recognises that a “desire to please” is getting in the way of him being his authentic self and creating tension for him. In working this through he recognises that if he listens to his intuition, this way of being comes into question and through some significant reflections and meaning making the more natural self is able to come to the fore. This renewed cognitive ability enables the leader to look at the organisation through a different lens.
Bespoke programme to match requirements
Newcastle Business School has been working in partnership with Northumbrian Water to develop and design bespoke programmes which match Northumbrian Water’s competencies and organisational requirements.
The programmes which are now up and running offer employees the opportunity to enhance their career prospects within the organisation, but to study for an accredited programme, giving them a recognised qualification.
Newcastle Business School developed a Masters in Leadership and Management for Northumbrian Water which focuses specifically on the practical development of senior leaders within the organisation. It is underpinned by Executive Coaching that ensures that participants experience challenge and growth on a one-to-one basis, creating a personally tailored development journey that will enable fundamental growth and development.
The MA in Leadership and Management is an intensive three-year experience, marked by key milestones along the way. Those completing year one are awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management; they go on to complete the Masters programme after three years.
Newcastle Business School has also developed a BA (Hons) in Leadership and Management for managers and team leaders, equipping them with the right skills for their current and future managerial roles.
There is opportunity within the programme for participants to achieve qualifications at key milestones each year. Employees can accrue credits while learning to be awarded the Certificate or Diploma in Higher Education in Leadership and Management, before going on to complete the BA (Hons) degree.
All modules encourage the students to reflect on and improve current personal and organisational practices and to identify improvements. John Cuthbert, Managing Director of Northumbrian Water Limited, said: “We recognise that the success of our business depends largely on our people and one of our key people objectives is to ensure that they are effectively led.
“In support of this, we have created our new Management Development Framework, which includes the programmes designed with Newcastle Business School.
“We chose Newcastle Business School as our preferred academic partner as we were particularly impressed with the creativity and adaptability of their programmes which are designed to develop our managers’ skills in line with our corporate objectives.”
:: Reproduced by kind permission from Talent Management Review July/August 200
