Wessex Training

Case Overviews

Management, Leadership and Team Development

A large professional Institute wanted a three hour experiential simulation game session for their annual conference for 200 delegates. The focus was on the application of core business skills and the value of teamwork; team dynamics; the understanding and use of team members’ individual strengths; the understanding of each others’ values and drivers and how they fit with the achievement of the team objective; the application of key business skills in a challenging yet enjoyable environment; achieving an end result as a collective rather than as individuals. Three Wessex simulation games were used, one being the lead task and the other two as sub tasks that were added in to heighten and simulate working under pressure, complexity, sub team working, inter team learning, leadership, problem solving, communication, managing change and more. Many lessons were realised during the debrief session around effective teams and how they operate.

Board Team Development

A NHS Trust required development for their team of Executive and Non-Executive Board members. After almost a year of consulting with this client the initial programme has been delivered and involved an appreciative inquiry session, with the aim of seeking the ‘essence’ of the Board: discovering the factors that give life to the Board when it has been most alive, successful and effective. This was followed with a half day high performing team simulation Pumping The Colours.

Management & Leadership Development

A Central Government agency of analysts and military specialist wanted an integrated development programme that would enable the two cultures to work together more effectively in a matrix culture. This programme ran for four years providing management and leadership development, coaching and facilitation skills and focused action learning sets to accommodate key change initiatives

Strategic Change In The Pharmaceutical Sector

Working initially with the board of directors, then specialist functional teams in the design and implementation of a strategic change initiative throughout the organisation. This programme included:
• One to one coaching and workshops in change leadership and management
• Establishing creativity and innovation teams
• Establishing a company communication plan
• The identification and development of a core competency framework and its integration into company systems

Manufacturing

Working with the senior management team to implement improved operational performance through “Lean Thinking” in purchasing and production. The success of this initial assignment lead to programmes in advanced technical coaching skills and a series of modular team leader development workshops, aimed at improved cross-functional communication and influencing.

Multi-Cultural Team Management & Leadership

Working in partnership with an International communications company experiencing difficulty with the subtleties of cultural difference, its impact on key projects and business relationships. After a period of research with key stakeholders Wessex was commissioned to design and deliver a series of highly interactive workshops entitled "The Alternatives to Shouting Louder". This global initiative improved the quality of commercial communication, understanding and co-operation across all the cultures and made significant inroads in bringing wayward projects back on course.

Fast-Food Retail

The IT business unit within an international fast-food retailer requested us to help them raise their skills and profile within their organisation. The resulting programme included skills training for Project Management, Business Analysis and Process Modelling and Improvement. The success of the initial programme led to the training being requested in other areas of the company, the facilitation of major project ‘kick-off’ workshops with all key internal and external stakeholders being represented, project ‘health checks’, team building events and the roll-out training for the company intranet. This followed with an on-going relationship focussing on one-to-one and executive coaching.

Facilitation

In addition to our core services our clients often ask us to facilitate special events. Either they want someone who is neutral when bringing several organisations together, have a potentially difficult situation or they just want someone to assist them make an event run more smoothly. Some recent facilitation events we have been involved in are:
• PFI (Private Funded Initiative) Partnering Workshops between building contractors, architects and clients,
• helping the European HR function of an international confectionery manufacturer and the IT function of a British based DIY company to identify and develop a vision statement and strategic objectives,
• assisting a Government Office to re-establish its strategic objectives and bringing their organisation together to understand and buy-in to the new initiatives,
• facilitating the annual conference for a division of an international pharmaceutical company including managing the whole conference, training sessions and team building

Executive Coaching

Working within the pharmaceutical and food retail sectors we established coaching programmes for several of their company directors and senior managers. These values-based organisations employ coaching to build alignment, to develop and unlock the potential of their current and future leaders, and to ensure the success of corporate training programmes. Focus areas have been accelerating career progression, establishing better focus on important priorities and improving job satisfaction.