Having supported one of my recently promoted team leaders, I was privileged to be invited to observe and offer feedback on the presentations of a cohort of new middle managers who had successfully completed their “Leading from the Middle” course. I was impressed not only by their enthusiasm for the course, but the detail and thought put into solving the problems that they had experienced. In recent years, we have made substantial progress in developing our own managers and we now have a community of college leaders who meet for mentoring and support discussions with those who want to progress their careers.
In my own experience, these sessions have grown trust and confidence and have now become a two-way process in which both sides share problems that need solving. The conversations are helping us grow in our capacity to deal with the complexities of the FE system. During these sessions, I often think about the role models and mentors that have believed in me and helped me navigate through the successes and most difficult issues. The ones who showed me what it meant to be a good leader and grew my inner resilience. I hope I can do the same for our own future talent.
My theoretical knowledge of management and leadership began through my Btec in business and finance at college and then at university. In my studies I became very interested in the organisational behaviour units of these courses, particularly approaches to motivating and engaging people within the culture of the organisation.
Many years later, as a perpetual student, I have found a new source of inspiration through the podcasts of Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO, who explores with simplicity and candor the lives of his guests. Simon Sinek in his “A Bit of Optimism” podcasts discusses and shares new thinking, ideas and insights from the world of business. Brené Brown, an American professor, offers us podcast conversations on her powerful vision of “awkward, brave and kind” leadership.
