Young's: A development partnership

Context

We’ve worked in partnership with Young’s to deliver a range of development projects, from: Operational Leadership Development, Leadership Coaching, Influence and Impact and Teams & Performance

Focus

Building the capability and confidence in managers and leaders across the business.

Solution

Bespoke development, tailor made for the participants’ and the organisations needs

The Results

Each programme is measured and evaluated in different ways according to the context.

Heavy focus is placed on the application of the skills, observation in practise and the promotion of participants. The current Ops Director team are all alumni of the Operational Leadership programme.

What was it like to work with us?

We asked Gail Khan, HR Director at Young’s, to share her experience of working with us.

I first met Katy when I joined one of her virtual sessions over lockdown, which gave me a great insight into the way she works and how she delivers. I felt that she’d be a great fit for us at Young’s. And I was right! She really gets us, the way we work and our people.

Just one example is how she adapts her sessions to be so practical. In our industry, some people get turned off by theory. But she strikes a balance of making it interesting, hands on and accessible – which can be a hard balance to achieve. Another is how she works fluidly with our entrepreneurial minds. We can be rule breakers and she gives us space to test things, go into free flow and then guides us back seamlessly. And a third is how well she communicates with me, the participants and the Executive sponsors.

At Young’s we want to work with somebody who’s going to be our partner, and Katy’s style is very collaborative. She listens, questions and understands what we want to achieve, actively suggesting options for us that we might not have considered.

Often we’ve found in the past that people have a course and just one way of running it. The same course that they deliver time and again to whatever audience, whatever industry. Katy’s willingness to adapt her content, create bespoke solutions and draw on her massive wealth of experience – even on the fly – is fantastic. I’ve seen her reading the room and modifying plans, or even introducing new activities based on what’s needed in the moment by the participants in the room to achieve the outcome.

So, I’d especially recommend Katy for tailored and collaborative, partnered development.

Our people really rate Katy and have taken a lot from her programmes. We’ve seen the difference in how people present, lead, coach and here are just a few comments from participants:

“It was definitely the Ops Development with you that really got the cogs turning in terms of my next steps. I’ve pulled on many of the tools that I learnt with you. Thanks for all your support Katy!”

“I’ve come away understanding the importance of listening and asking the right questions to guide people to solve their own problems and make their own decisions. I've also learnt that I tend to enter conversations or meetings with an expected outcome, whether that be how a conversation will go or how a decision should be made. I'm now taking a more open-minded approach My team work on projects that often take many months to complete and hit many obstacles along the way. I can't wait to use this new approach with them next time they hit a blocker and support them unpick it themselves.”

“I found it extremely useful, working with actors for the first time was eye opening. I have always struggled with the countless courses & programmes I’ve attended over the years, so using well researched & informed actors was a high point for me.”

“I’m now aware that I can be very directive rather than asking the right questions to get people to open up and find their own/better solutions and buy more into the process. There was some subtle tips that I got around body language and preparing for coaching conversations that was extremely useful and helpful. I’m already listening more and using open questions rather than always being directive. This was a great course and I took loads away from it.”

“Although I pride myself on being pretty self-aware, I realise now I’ve developed a habit of closing down conversations quickly, trying to advise /solve /impose my own ideas or solutions on my team & others far too much. Potentially adding work & stress to my working week, while at the same time not challenging or developing others to their own full potential”

“I’ve taken so much from the programme. 3 quick examples: I’ve used the personal branding activity with my team, focused on giving feedback on their presentations, become more assertive (rather than being resentful!) and my confidence has increased in spades as a result”

“I’m focusing now on being proactive with senior stakeholders, taking the opportunity to present and build up confidence. I’m already putting loads of small elements from the programme into place and they’re making a difference”

“Super session. I was a big fan of the hands on activities. Key learning: make the points succinctly, keep calm, turn the dial up on listening, practise my questioning”

“What a great day. It was engaging from the get go. Plenty of sharing real and practical ideas that I can use day to day (from dealing with team challenges to ice breakers for meetings). Loved using the facilitation technique to solve ‘real big challenges’ at work”