What is it?

The Future Positive Management Programme is for ambitious, growing businesses. It aims to unlock business potential by developing and supporting existing and emerging management talent. (Institute of Leadership and Management)

Who is it for?

Designed for managers who have come from specialist or technical backgrounds, the programme helps them to develop the vision, mindset, skills, belief and discipline to enable them to become more comfortable, confident and effective in their management role.

Practical tools and ideas for working managers

The course is pragmatic, action-focused and relevant to the immediate and longer-term needs of the individuals and the business. It is focused on a personal development plan and a business improvement project. Managers are also provided with an invaluable ‘toolkit’ of templates, exercise, plans and benchmarking tools - these bring immediate benefits to the business and the individual.

Long term impact- long term benefits

The course is designed to be a platform for ongoing and sustained development of management and leadership skills –this is not just a short-lived injection of ideas and enthusiasm! The programme is spread out over a realistic time-frame, to keep demands on busy managers reasonable. This allows ongoing support and encouragement for new thinking, behaviours and habits to develop and take root.

Excellent value for money- excellent return on investment

Participants end the programme reporting improved skills and attitudes, and also a confidence and enthusiasm for continuing their learning and development as managers. Participants have reported verifiable financial benefits of up to £90,000 through increased efficiency, effectiveness and the ability and confidence to operate at a more strategic level- growing and improving the business.

The programme won a Scottish Training Award in 2005.

WHAT PEOPLE SAID

About the courses content:

• Useful management tools and techniques – these were great. Really practical, something you could use immediately and keep coming back to.
• Good balance of things, 360s, Personal Styles profile, coaching, workshops, books and the support and ideas from fellow participants.

About the experience

• It was great to know that I am not alone. Other people are facing similar challenges.
• The one-to-one coaching support really helped me work through some difficult issues

About what they achieved:

• I’m now a reformed control freak! I trust more and delegate more
• I got better understanding what makes people tick and how to manage different personalities
• Better work-life balance: Put more into relationships at home.

About the business benefits:

• Improved processes
• Brought in more business.
• Reduced costs and improved service.
• Successfully brought a project in £1.8M under budget with zero complaints
• Reduced error rate from 33% to 22%
• Productivity has increased from 800 shipments a month to 800 a week in a year. Quality has also improved from 0.6% errors to 0.25%.
• Staff retention has improved significantly because people are happier and better supported.

About where they are now:

• I have more time, confidence and understanding to focus on strategic issues, developing the business
• The course has been a great opportunity for me. I’m more positive about where I am now what I am doing and where I am going. I’m better prepared for all future challenges.

WHAT’S IN IT?
There are four phases. They build into an upward spiral as shown below:

Phase one: Analysis and planning
The purpose of this phase is to clarify each delegate’s individual development objectives. This involves:

• A 360 degree performance review
• Thomas International Personal (Behavioural style) Profile
• People-management systems benchmarking exercise
• Identifying a business improvement project
• Interviews to establish mutual expectations, and to identify specific goals and outcome measures for programme

Phase two: Information/input
The purpose of this phase is to provide new ideas and information to help address participant’s development objectives. This includes :

• Six one-day modules focusing on:
  
  • The role of the manager
  • Managing and developing yourself, and managing time
  • Building a performance Culture
  • Effective people-management systems and process
  • Influencing, assertiveness and dealing with conflict and difficult people
  • Coaching and delegation
  • Building high-performing teams
    
• Directed reading of management texts
• Peer to peer learning and support

Phase three: Implementation and practice
The purpose of this phase is to put new ideas into place, to meet the development priorities, and to learn what works best for you in practice.

• Ongoing action-planning, progress checking and evaluation: Brief monthly updates of goals, actions and outcomes
• Executive Coaching: Follow-up sessions back at work to ensure that after each module the learning points are translated into action in the workplace.
• Monthly coaching session with manager to discuss action, progress outcomes and goals
• Group review sessions
• Phone and e-mail support
• Access to further resources/support materials

Phase four: Review and future planning
Purpose: To see if the development goals have been achieved, to learn from, and to celebrate, success.

• One-to one review and planning session to reflect on success and identify future development goals
• Review workshop, which includes presentations from each delegate on what they have achieved through the program
• 360 degree performance review (Optional)
• Thomas International DISC Behavioural Style profile (Optional)