Celebrating our first Inspiring Leadership cohort

Over the past nine months, leaders from across Achieve together have taken part in the first cohort of the Great Manager Academy: Inspiring Leadership Programme. The programme has given them the chance to step back from day-to-day demands, build new skills and think about how they lead and support others.

Bringing together Heads of Areas from across Operations, the programme explored topics including values led leadership, self-awareness through Insights Discovery, coaching, mentoring and digital transformation. It also gave everyone the chance to pause, share ideas and learn from each other in a supportive space.

Here are some reflections shared by the cohort:

Sophie Schmitt

“It has been insightful and impactful experience for me.  It has certainly challenged my thinking, broadened my perspective and given me real practical tools to support my vision as a leader.”

Jane Neil

“I thoroughly enjoyed all elements of each training session, that I thought were all thought provoking and highly relevant to the challenges and opportunities within the sector.”

David Finan

“The course has been a real eye-opener in looking how powerful tool mentoring can be. Working with colleagues from other Regions also added a great dynamic in sharing common experiences and practices.”

Lee Clayson

“Participating in the course has strengthened my confidence in decision making and enhanced my ability to lead with clarity and purpose. It has also given me practical tools to better support, motivate, and develop my team, in a more effective and structured way, with a greater focus on coaching rather than just mentoring.”

Vikki Brown

“I thoroughly enjoyed the training programme. The experience of meeting other Heads of Area, outside of my own region was insightful and empowering. Without this course I may never have had the opportunity to get to know and share experiences with my colleagues in a way that this has bonded us.”

Donna Foley

“This inspiring programme has played a big part in my development at Achieve together. My insights report was a real eye-opener, helping me understand and embrace my leadership style while also making me more aware of how my interactions can leave others feeling.”

The programme ended with a final session called Leading Forward with Impact, where participants looked back on their 360 feedback, reflected on their progress and shared examples of how they have used their learning in practice with Sam, Chief Operating Officer at Achieve together.

Gemma Belcher, Programme Lead, said:

“A huge thank you to this first cohort for the honesty, trust, challenge and commitment they brought throughout the programme.  Alongside the learning itself, it has been brilliant to see the connection, openness and support develop across the group over the last few months. In roles that can often feel operationally busy and isolated, creating space to think alongside other leaders has been a powerful part of the journey.

I hope this cohort continues to lean on each other, challenge each other and remain connected beyond the programme itself, building a strong network of peers across the organisation that they can think with, problem solve with and use as thinking partners going forward.”

This is the start of the Inspiring Leadership journey, with a second cohort already being planned to bring together leaders from both Operations and Community Hubs.

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