Women in Leadership Development Programme
Bring your Authentic Self to your Leadership Style
“Women lead best when operating from an authentic place, expressing their true self as experienced from within” (Judith Blanton, 2009).
Our women in leadership programmes are specifically designed with the female leader in mind. We place an emphasis on the personal development side of leadership, inviting participants to gain increased awareness around their strengths, values and needs. We explore the underlying challenges and personal barriers that typically hold women back at work and support participants in developing their knowledge and skills to overcome these barriers in a way that is authentic to their personal strengths and values.In our experience, the consistent themes that emerge for women at all career stages include Imposter syndrome; Perfectionism; Stress Management; Self-promotion; Self-confidence; Managing Career and Family priorities. Our experience is supported by various research studies.Research also shows that social conditioning is a factor that influences differences in male and female leadership styles. The research suggests that men are more self-oriented, while women are more community-focused (Forbes 2000). With increased self-awareness and awareness of the organisational system and dynamics, a leader is better equipped to make intentional choices around their style, desired impact and appropriate approach.
Workshop 1: Setting the Stage for Leadership Development and Group FormationWorkshop One is about setting the group up for success by getting to know each other better and putting the foundations in place that create psychological safety. We introduce a framework for effective leadership, recognising that leadership is everyone’s job in an organisation. We share models for Career Planning, Goal Setting and Resilience.
Workshop 2: Developing Individual Leadership Presence and ImpactWorkshop Two focuses on developing a deeper understanding of emotional needs, drivers and values. This is the foundation to understanding ourselves and from here we can understand what is authentic for us as female leaders. Each participant completes an Emotional Intelligence assessment and has an individual debrief meeting with their assigned coach in advance of workshop Three.
Workshop 3: Developing Self and OthersWorkshop Three explores the role of the leader in developing themselves and others and developing competence in performance management. We explore the role of on-going quality conversations as a key skill set for leaders to inspire and motivate others and foster a growth mindset culture. We introduce core coaching skills and a useful model to help participants understand how they can reduce interference to performance and resistance to change in themselves and others.
Workshop 4: Building and Leading Effective TeamsWorkshop Four is about building and leading effective teams. We will explore the dynamics that exist in teams and how managers can navigate these more effectively. Participants will develop an understanding of the dynamics at play in the organisational system and how they can manifest as so called ‘personality’ issues. Drawing on a research-based team development model, participants will learn the six conditions that account for 60-90% of team effectiveness.
Workshop 5: Influencing and Relationships across the Organisational SystemWorkshop Five explores the importance of developing and maintaining strategic relationships across and outside the organisational system. We also focus on the role of strategic and critical thinking skills in leadership effectiveness.
Workshop 6: Developing your Personal Brand. Reflection and next steps in your leadership journeyWorkshop Six is also about endings and new beginnings. Endings are often skipped over, yet they are an important stage in relationships. Reflection in encouraged throughout the programme and is re-enforced in this final workshop.Participants explores the importance of actively managing their professional image and the role personal brand has in our career and leadership effectiveness.
Certificates of attendance will be provided.
Programme Details
Duration: 6 monthsFormat: 6 x 1-day workshops. Delivered every 4 weeks – in-person or virtually.3 x 1-hour one-to-one coaching sessions plus an Emotional Intelligence debrief meeting for each participant.Participants: Up to 16 participants per programme
“The ‘Emerge’ Women in Leadership programme has exceeded my expectations in supporting Irish Rail’s mission to develop the female talent pipeline in the organisation. The focus on developing the person first, then the leader is what sets this programme apart. Participants have described it as having a transformational impact on both their personal and professional lives. They have developed leadership skills across 16 areas including self-awareness, confidence, executive presence and impact, managing conflict and team leadership skills. The programme has also provided a platform to create an engaged support network of female leaders which we will develop across the organisation.”
Linda Allen, Head of Talent, Irish Rail
