Leading ICAS programmes for aspiring and executive leaders
Professionals are working in an increasingly fast paced environment, with less time to spend on themselves and their own development. It can be difficult to be anything other than reactive when life and work are moving at high speed and the boundaries between them are blurred by homeworking.
If you aspire to be a senior leader within your organisation, then you may need to consider multiple factors: Who are your key stakeholders or sponsors? What is your business case? What mindset and skill set are required to secure the role in this current climate? How might you equip yourself? Promotion most often follows when people are already doing the job that the next-level role requires.
On the other hand, perhaps you are a senior leader, dogged by daily challenges and the inevitable stakeholder relationship issues that leaders must deal with. We are living and working in turbulent times where businesses are required to respond to changes that are being driven by numerous factors, from advancements in technology to the unnerving variants of COVID-19. Do we go back to the office? Do we need an office? How do we find a balance with the right infrastructure that serves everyone’s needs? Decision fatigue is a reality.
Research shows that leadership is a key skill for successfully managing change and driving organisational performance. Professionals who combine strong technical skills with effective leadership skills are well placed to achieve success across their business, practice, or team, and are also more likely to enhance their career prospects. This is because leadership is about relationships and effective leaders take people with them by modelling the way, inspiring others towards a common vision, challenging outdated processes and thinking, and enabling as well as encouraging individuals to be the best version of themselves. Effective leadership can neither be underestimated nor over emphasised.
The good news is that leadership is learnable and the ICAS Leadership programmes are intended to equip busy professionals with the leadership skills that will leverage their technical ability. This is an opportunity to put theory into practice. Programmes are designed to help participants develop their own personal leadership style without changing who they are.
The programme structure of group workshops interleaved with tailored 1:1-sessions allow for shared learning augmented by deeper, more personalised coaching conversations. Themes can range from nurturing the mindset for success and managing our own and others’ emotions to dealing with difficult people, building resilience, and stimulating high performance in individuals as well as teams.
The virtual group sessions (limited to 10-12 delegates) offer the opportunity for vibrant ‘round-table’ discussions with peers from different organisations. Participants are invited to share thoughts, challenges, and aspirations as well as experiences, options, and solutions in a mutually supportive safe space. As the sessions are bound by confidentiality, such conversations are designed and intended to broaden awareness and support collective learning and growth.
The alternate 1:1-sessions then allow participants to do a deeper dive into the issues, challenges and aspirations that are more personal to them. Leadership starts with how we lead ourselves and these sessions are an opportunity for participants to step back and explore as well as identify the personal goals and actions that will accelerate their leadership development.
The programmes are facilitated by experienced coaches from Leading Figures, a coaching and consulting firm that has partnered with ICAS for more than 5 years. Prior to the pandemic these programmes were facilitated in London and Edinburgh but with the normalisation of virtual technology they are now being offered to CAs as well as non-members across the UK.
Two distinct programmes have been designed: one for aspiring leaders and the other for executive leaders. More information on the programmes is as follows:
Brief introduction to the two ICAS Coaching Programmes
Aspiring Leaders Coaching Programme
Executive Leaders Coaching programme
Should you have any questions about either of the programmes, please contact Leading Figures via this Enquiry Form for the ICAS Leadership Programmes or email info@leadingfigures.com.
Please also note that we are happy to put you in touch with previous participants should you wish to ask them any questions or get a sense of what they gained from their programme.
In-house training for your organisation
The above programmes are public open access programmes, but Leading Figures can also design and deliver similar programmes exclusively for your organisation. Should you have any in-house training or coaching enquiries, please contact Leading Figures via either of the above methods and they will get in touch with you to discuss your requirements.