The Exeter Leadership Partners 2018

BUSINESS SCHOOL

THE EXETER LEADERSHIP PARTNERS

Business School Rankings 2016

The Exeter Leadership Partners FOREWORD Strategic leadership conversations are at the centre of our Exeter Leadership Partners (ELP) programme, which we design and deliver specifically for the leaders of our Partner organisations. Participants have access to our world-class faculty, their research, senior leaders attending as guest speakers, and a unique cross-sector network of leaders.

The programme, now in its 17th year, is delivered by the Exeter Centre for Leadership and incorporates the latest research with an experiential approach to leading in a complex and rapidly changing environment.

Professor David Bruce Allen Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean

Our work is grounded in practice, real challenges and leading in an increasingly complex environment.

Our specific research interests include:• Relational Leadership • Leading Change • Governance and Leadership

We believe that our research, networks and diverse learning methods, combined with our commitment to our Partners, are the foundation of this wellregarded and longstanding programme for senior leaders.

Professor Ruth Sealy Director Exeter Centre for Leadership

The Exeter Leadership Partners FOREWORD Strategic leadership conversations are at the centre of our Exeter Leadership Partners (ELP) programme, which we design and deliver specifically for the leaders of our Partner organisations. Participants have access to our world-class faculty, their research, senior leaders attending as guest speakers, and a unique cross-sector network of leaders.

The programme, now in its 17th year, is delivered by the Exeter Centre for Leadership and incorporates the latest research with an experiential approach to leading in a complex and rapidly changing environment.

The space to think and grow – strategically and creatively STRATEGIC AWARENESS

SENSE MAKING

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

SELFAWARENESS

PEER LEARNING

Through a combination of speaker-led and workshop events, we challenge participants’ political, environmental, social and technological perspectives as well as providing the latest research into leadership styles and trends. For instance, in the last twelve months topics have included:

The nature of our events and the limited number of participants involved, allows close exploration of topics with the speakers and within the group. We encourage the use of reflective diaries to enhance this learning. Within our events emphasis is placed on practical application and this is supported through Critical Friends, selected by participants to work with them on an ongoing basis.

We seek to broaden participants’ knowledge of and approaches to leadership issues. Speakers are briefed to challenge participants’ perspectives and vice versa, in the knowledge that in the world of leadership there are not necessarily right answers only the right questions. In addition, use of a variety of action learning techniques allows participants’ own issues or dilemmas to be seen, floodlit, in context, and spotlit to allow close focus on the concern.

We regard strong selfawareness as fundamental to the development of effective strategic leaders. We use a combination of psychometrics, leadership exchanges, action learning as well as reflective diaries for participants to explore and develop the impact of their approaches and characteristics on others. Again, Critical Friends are there to support participants as a confidential sounding board.

The events are held three times a year and are specifically designed to allow not only the close examination of topics but also the time for participants to collaborate and network with colleagues from a wide range of other industries and sectors. Feedback supports the vital nature of such interactions not only because of the surprising commonality of issues being faced, but also because of the knowledge gained about the different approaches used to address such issues.

Professor David Bruce Allen

• Building, Managing and Changing Reputation

Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean

• The Accidental Strategic Leader • Impact of Global Megatrends

Our work is grounded in practice, real challenges and leading in an increasingly complex environment.

Our specific research interests include:• Relational Leadership • Leading Change • Governance and Leadership

We believe that our research, networks and diverse learning methods, combined with our commitment to our Partners, are the foundation of this wellregarded and longstanding programme for senior leaders.

Professor Ruth Sealy Director Exeter Centre for Leadership

• Leadership Paradoxes

The Exeter Leadership Partners provides a helpful strategic leadership development opportunity to those looking to take that step to a board level role. The breadth and range of sectors involved provides different perspectives and our participants have all commented on the benefits of having a Critical Friend with whom they can independently discuss their challenges. The subjects discussed at the sessions are always topical and relevant to the participants and the speakers have been top class. This programme has been enjoyed and beneficial to JLT’s participants.

Sarah Dunmore Director, Talent and Development, JLT Group

Is it right for you?

The ELP provides a unique contribution to the development of top leaders.

It is a close-knit group of participants drawn from the senior cadre of a small group of organisations, carefully selected to ensure the programme is suitable for their personal development to or at Board level position.

Commitment of the organisation and their participants is crucial, not only in ensuring attendance at events but also the ongoing engagement with Critical Friends and the other opportunities which the programme presents. We look for top level support for the individuals chosen, both at Board and line management level and from the HR team. HR directors have a standing invitation to events and we are keen for CEO’s or other sponsors to experience the programme too.

The best way to answer the question ‘Is it right for you’ is to attend an event. Indeed we regard it as crucial for the sponsor (HRD or line manager) and prospective participants to understand the programme before any commitment to joining the Partnership.

The Programme

The Programme is designed to develop the personal qualities, insights and confidence of talented individuals who have been identified by their organisations to become their top leaders, by: The Programme consists of:

n Providing an environment which

enables conversations that cannot be held elsewhere, based on high-trust relationships. n Developing and exploring innovative

approaches to leadership and resolutions of leadership dilemmas. Leveraging the resources, research and experience within the Exeter Centre for Leadership and the Business School, for the benefit of our Partners. n Creating and nurturing a unique

approach to leadership development directed at selected individuals on the threshold of strategic leadership.

n Three 24hr overnight events run under

‘Chatham House’ rules. n Content and themes based around

developing strategic awareness. n A small group of selected Leaders

drawn from our Partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors. n Each participant has access to a Critical

Friend (drawn from our Fellows and Associates) providing three mentoring/ coaching sessions per year.

The Exeter Leadership Partners’ experience has been absolutely fascinating. The programme and the support from Exeter University has been first class. Poignant and contemporary speakers from across the commercial and public sectors, challenging debate amongst a diverse array of delegates and numerous points of intellectual depth have collectively given me a rich seam for reflection.

That I can now draw on that in my senior appointments, is especially relevant.

Air Vice Marshall Andy Turner CBE MA RAF Head of Military Operations UK

Recent Events

At recent events we have welcomed: • Victoria Cleland, Chief Cashier, Bank of England • Dr David Landsman, Chair, Tata Europe • General Sir Gordon Messenger, Vice Chief of Defence Staff • Professor Ruth Sealy, Director of Exeter Centre for Leadership • Professor Will Harvey, Associate Dean Research • London Mozart Players

Dates for 2018/19 events 5– 6 June 2018

17– 18 October 2018 29– 30 January 2019 4– 5 June 2019

PARTNERS INCLUDE: • Centrax • Eden Project • Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group • Met Office • RAF • WH Smith

Contact information

Alex Reichardt University of Exeter Business School Room 1.50, Streatham Court, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4ST

2018BS001

Tel: 01392 722560 Email: a.f.reichardt@exeter.ac.uk Web: business-school.exeter.ac.uk/research/centres/ecl