For the last decade, I’ve specialized in training and development for people who lead teams. If you consider my topics, they probably don’t differ dramatically from those of other leadership training programs. The difference, however, is that I don’t train to Inform- I train to Transform. That’s a bold statement that anyone can make, so let me quantify it with a story that’s unique in its content but typical of my approach…

I was working with a participant on a leadership training program that had a very chequered past including (I kid you not) burning down eight buildings in an arson attack which resulted in burns to over 60% of his body and a seven-year prison sentence.

At one point during the program we were having a group conversation regarding self-leadership and I asked him if he regretted any of his actions or choices and I was quite surprised to have him reply that he did not. Now I’ve worked with thousands of people over the years, from people on murder charges through to CEOs of large organisations and there’s not much that shocks me these days, but I was really quite surprised by his lack of negative reflection towards his life.

My job is to shift people’s thinking and behaviour to make them more effective both in the workplace and in their personal lives, but unless I’m able to help people to initially see the change that needs to occur, and then want to make that change, then any shift is unlikely.

I was aware that he now had a family and a daughter that he loved and was very committed to, so I asked him if one day he’d be happy for his daughter to marry someone like himself- to which he emphatically replied that he did not want that to be the case at all. I hadn’t been able to unlock his potential through a ‘regret’ key, but here was a key through his affection for his daughter. I told him that as girls become young women, their default setting can become being attracted to men that are like their father. He was shocked by this concept and very open to my suggestion that the best way for his daughter to be attracted to a guy who was significantly different from him, was for him to make some significant changes to become like the guy that he wanted his daughter to marry one day. It was such a drastic revelation for him and was the most reflective that I had seen him over the three days of training. In fact, he was very articulate in his gratitude for this revelation, reaching across the table to shake my hand. Then at the conclusion of the training program several hours later he once again shook my hand but this time he hugged me to show his appreciation.

You don’t get that kind of result, or even process, by simply following course content. That being said, I’m very effective at delivering content in a fun, meaningful, and engaging way but my point of difference is strongly and quickly connecting with people and from there challenging them to lead (and live) more effectively!

You’ll see the kind of topics I cover in leadership training on this website. The vast majority of my leadership facilitation is delivered “in-house” in businesses, which firstly requires me to sit down with senior management and understand the business, the industry or the profession. I then discuss leadership needs and opportunities and undertake site visits if appropriate. It’s great to have management representatives be involved in the training so we’ll discuss how senior management and other key leaders in the business can be involved in the training, for instance as subject matter experts, or for senior leaders to talk about their own leadership journey. On the basis of this pre-work, we agree on the appropriate course content including the possibility of a work-based improvement project. I’d love to take your leaders on a journey of transformation- contact me to talk further about your leadership training requirements today!