Like to find out a little more about the clients we serve? These leadership development case studies will give you a better understanding of how we help organisations develop leadership capability and build high performing teams.
DesignInc
DesignInc is an Australia-wide practice, dedicated to creating people-centric environments from the large scale to the small. DesignInc’s award-winning portfolio includes hospitals and laboratories, sport centres, schools and universities, workplaces, multi-residential communities and infrastructure projects.
With combined talent of 170 architects, urban planners, interior designers and landscape architects, across studios in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, DesignInc brings a holistic perspective to each client’s brief and site.
Situation
DesignInc and The Leadership Sphere have worked in partnership for several years. During this time The Leadership Sphere has supported DesignInc with three strategic reviews, ongoing capability development and support for the senior leadership team.
Objectives
As outlined by Christon Batey-Smith, who is one of three Directors for DesignInc in Melbourne, the primary objective of the work undertaken was to help the executive think strategically and to move beyond project excellence to provide clear direction across the organisation. Christon mentioned that “through working with The Leadership Sphere, we have been able to improve our strategic thinking” and that each set of new objectives have been met “through a style of positive encouragement and proactive challenging that has helped us develop our own ability to question and challenge ourselves and the team”.
Approach
The approach taken started with business strategy and strategic planning. It then moved to leadership capability development to help the executive set clear direction and get positive contribution from everyone in the organisation.
Business strategy
The Leadership Sphere have supported DesignInc with three rounds of strategy review and each time presented a “fresh approach and new thinking” to the process. The Leadership Sphere were able to efficiently work with the executive because of their ability to relate to the business. Christon mentioned that “The Leadership Sphere were able to distil quickly what was important and help us to focus on this.”
Leadership development
When it came to leadership development, The Leadership Sphere were approachable and knowledgeable in the way they worked with the executive. By creating a safe and open place to discuss key issues and leadership styles The Leadership Sphere were able to challenge when necessary and push back that little bit further at each stage of the leadership program.
Outcomes
Ongoing leadership development
Having a trusted partner to help the executive team to grow and develop was one of the most important outcomes of the leadership development program. Getting clear as a leadership team was an important first step, before engaging key stakeholders across the business. Having a long-standing relationship helped the leadership team to quickly and efficiently pick up where things were at.
“Each time we met we were able to progress without having to tell the back story.”
Fresh approaches to engage the broader team
The Leadership Sphere were able to help DesignInc with exploring key issues and understand the priorities that needed to be solved at that point in time. These issues were always different and required fresh thinking and new approaches, whilst taking into consideration learnings from past business activities. The Leadership Sphere helped DesignInc to ‘call out’ the issues and challenges and take personal responsibility for solving them. Once identified, work was undertaken on the most practical ways to engage everyone across the whole organisation to find the solutions. By aligning business strategy with leadership development that helped engage the broader team has been the underlying success of the partnership.
“The Leadership Sphere helped us to ‘call out’ the issues we faced. We were then able to work on the most appropriate ways to lead the organisation through these challenges.”
Performance improvement
The ongoing support from The Leadership Sphere has enabled DesignInc to develop a leadership culture and structure that helps communication at the executive and across all project teams within the business. Incremental improvement over time has helped guide the business and is an example of how The Leadership Sphere can support small and medium businesses to scale their operations in a way that is inclusive and accommodating to the needs of the people that are responsible for delivering projects. It was felt by the executive that performance across business has continued to improve significantly as a result of the three strategic reviews in the last decade. It is also felt that the relationship between both organisations will continue to be highly beneficial to the leadership team over time and the success has been in the connection between business strategy and the leadership approach required to drive the implementation.
The Leadership Sphere
The Leadership Sphere is one of the most highly regarded leadership development partners for small and medium business and larger organisations in Australia. This includes leadership development programs, building high performing teams, executive coaching and other leadership tools and services. We are grateful of the opportunity to work with DesignInc and for the commitment and actions taken by everyone involved in the program.
Case Studies
Ashurst LLP
Ashurst is a leading international law firm established in the United Kingdom with operations in Asia, Australia, Middle East, and the United States. Although established in 1822, the firm did not officially set up shop in Australia until 2012 when it combined practice with Melbourne-based firm Blake Dawson (est. 1841) which then rebranded to Ashurst Australia…
APT Travel Group
The APT Travel Group (ATG) is a global business with an extensive portfolio of touring and cruising brands including APT, Travelmarvel, TravelGlo, Botanica World Discoveries, Captains Choice and Antarctica Flights. As Australia’s largest locally owned tour company and most awarded, it maintains an unparalleled commitment to innovation in defining what travel means, not only in Australia but the world…
DesignInc
DesignInc is an Australia-wide practice, dedicated to creating people-centric environments from the large scale to the small. DesignInc’s award-winning portfolio includes hospitals and laboratories, sport centres, schools and universities, workplaces, multi-residential communities and infrastructure projects.
Down Syndrome Victoria
Down Syndrome Victoria (DSV) is Victoria’s peak organisation representing people with Down syndrome and their families. They work alongside people with Down syndrome to reach their potential and live the lives they choose. Their aim is to create a society where people with Down syndrome are valued, and enjoy social and economic inclusion.
Envista
Envista is a global leader in the dental industry, consisting of over thirty trusted brands, including Nobel Biocare. Their purpose is to partner with professionals to improve lives and provide the best possible patient care through industry-leading products, solutions, and technology.
Our promise to you
- The best solution for delivering your desired learning outcomes.
- Highly experienced and accredited consultants, facilitators and coaches.
- Proprietary methodologies based on the latest research and experience from world-leading consultants.
- Evidence-driven program design. You always know what results you’re getting.
- Dedicated support team. We love to help you succeed.
- Open and honest communication. Our mantra is “clear is kind”.
- You define what ‘value’ means. We deliver.
Phillip Ralph
