Leadership Leads Learning |

Leadership Leads Learning

Published by Grant Newton July 22nd, 2009 in General

We know a lot of the culture of an organisation is driven by the leadership. We also know that the success of training interventions is impacted hugely when the leader is involved. It could be the manager of the team all the way through to the CEO of the company. Unfortunately often management is looking for a quick fix, they throw some training at their team (or the problem) and then carry on as they were before with the “hope-like-hell-it-worked” illusion that everything will be different. And the resultant disillusionment follows a while later when there does not seem to be much shift in their people. One thing Avo knows for sure is that the success of the training is directly proportional to the involvement and commitment of the leader of the group.

I was very lucky to see this happening before my eyes the other day - how the open, transparent attitude and manner of the leaders directly influenced the group in the moment. I was working with the leadership group of Auto & Truck Tyres on Saturday (yes they all come to training on Saturday). It was brilliant, both Rob and Nic (2 of the directors), strong driver personalities, were completely open about their weaknesses, mistakes and aggressive attitudes during crises at work. As I raised the concepts during the training and they saw where they had gone wrong, they immediately told the whole group, all the managers that report to them. We laughed, bantered and I ripped them off. But the example they set was astounding: here is the CEO telling everyone what his major downfall is. Immediately he told his PA to make him signs to put on his desk so that every single time people come talk to him he’ll remember to think about the concepts so that he’ll manage himself better!

What did they teach their managers? We all have weaknesses and we all have strengths. It’s ok to talk about our weaknesses and we don’t have to hide them away: we can practice getting better, we can laugh at ourselves, we can be transparent, we can be open, we can support one another.

If the leadership is open to learning, it’s the example they set for their people. And so a culture of growing and development is set up. If they can’t, the learning will be academic and left up to the individual.

Kudos to you and your team at ATT!

7 Responses to “Leadership Leads Learning”

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1 cheryl brown Jul 23rd, 2009 at 9:38 am

Now you know why we are so proud to be part of the ATT Team!!!!
2 markus glumb Jul 23rd, 2009 at 12:56 pm

hi guys
the training so far i had with you people was very good
i am excited for the next one
there is always coming interesting themes on the table
and its even more interesting how i handle the problems and good things what happen every day
my compliments to grant and errol
so we see us on ‘'’’saturday”'’
regards
markus
by the way— i also have a sign on my table—-
3 Vanessa Jul 23rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm

An excellent day that I enjoyed and have learnt a lot from. Not only can I use the concepts at work but at home too.

Thanks for a great day.
4 yojules Jul 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 pm

Respect, guys!!!!!

Not many leaders who are big enough to own up to their weaknesses! Most are too worried about losing power that way.

But You’re right Grant, a company can learn best when the leader is able to face up to their stuff and work at it as much as they expect everyone else to do it: that sets the tone for a true learning organisation.
5 Lizette Jansen Van Vuuren Jul 24th, 2009 at 8:47 am

Hi All, Unfortunately I was not at the training on Saturday 11 July - and I believe I missed A LOT of FUN !! Errol very kindly gave me a quick overview of what the course was all about. I think one of the very important things that ALL OF US AS MANAGERS CAN DO BETTER is LISTEN CAREFULLY and DO NOT INTERRUPT. Allow the other person to finish their ’story’ - doesnt matter how long it takes. (I know its not always easy Firstly it is good manners and secondly, once you have the entire story and all the information, you usually would be able to make the right decision first time round.
Thanks again to Grant and Errol for all the effort. It is an absolute pleasure receiving training from you guys. THANKS AGAIN
6 Juanita Jamneck Jul 27th, 2009 at 9:25 am

Thanks very much Grant. I learnt a lot, and I had lots of fun doing so.
7 Grant Jul 27th, 2009 at 2:37 pm

I must say you guys at ATT blew me away again on Saturday - so watch this space I’ll be blogging again soon

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