Auto components firm pioneers new leadership programme
A RAPIDLY expanding manufacturing company in Warwickshire has trialled a new leadership programme designed to help managers cultivate increased self-awareness.
Automotive Insulations, which makes thermal and acoustic insulation materials for a range of vehicles, put forward 10 managers for the pioneering programme known as Packtypes: Social Fitness for Managers.
The programme is recognised by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and is match funded at Automotive Insulations by GrowthAccelerator, a national business support service, as part of the company’s growth strategy.
The programme is designed to equip managers with the tools and skills they need to develop high-performing teams within a growing business.
Liz Northwood, HR Manager at Automotive Insulations, said: “Ten of our managers took part in the training. They were a little unsure what to expect, at first, but the training turned out to be fun, instructive – and very revealing. The initial session looked at understanding yourself and others, stimulating some very interesting and frank conversations.”
Delegates were then encouraged to use the Packtypes cards with family, friends and colleagues, looking at the personal and professional relationships within their lives. Additional strands of the programme included identifying personal strengths and cultivating teamwork, as well as enhancing coaching and leadership skills by developing others using what they had learned.
As members of the GrowthAccelerator programme, Automotive Insulations is using the scheme to support recruitment and employee engagement as well as fostering outstanding teamwork and strength-based leadership during a period of rapid growth.
“The whole programme has been incredibly engaging. Some participants have already attended several training sessions within the company, but everybody agreed that this was something that they could really apply to their everyday roles,” said Ms Northwood.
“The programme proved to be a useful way of building a strong, communicative team within our organisation. Since the training we have used the tool to strengthen our recruitment process and follow this through into our appraisal processes.”
The programme was delivered by Cheryl Bradbury and Jane Frost, of QCF Training.
Packtypes revolves around a pack of cards that reveal ‘who you are’. It takes a systematic approach and is designed to have a transformational effect upon people who have responsibility for developing others. The programme is based on the idea that accurate self-awareness helps to change and develop attitudes in a positive way and that changing attitudes is the key to sustainably improving behaviour and performance.
Automotive Insulations has recently employed Cheryl Bradbury in the post of Talent Manager where she will continue to embed the Packtypes applications both within the company and within the supply chain with other interested parties.
