Situation

Ashleigh Smith, Chief Customer & People Officer for ATG engaged The Leadership Sphere to deliver a senior leadership development program to better connect the senior leadership team and other leaders across the business with the overall strategy of the group. Whilst the strategy for the group was clear, it was felt that investing in leadership capability development was the next important step for the leadership group. ATG wanted to reinforce to leaders the importance of leadership development and that everyone had a personal responsibility to be the best leader they could be.

Outcomes

Connect strategy to personal responsibility

ATG felt that leadership capability development has helped improve all key metrics across the business. As one of the most established Chief Customer & People Officer’s in-country, Ashleigh Smith had worked with the executive to understand that having a clear strategy was important and that workplace culture was fundamental to delivering with impact. The leadership development program delivered by The Leadership Sphere played a pivotal role in connecting business strategy with the personal responsibility of every leader in the organisation to drive that strategy. It gave everyone the confidence to self-reflect and engage with others in a meaningful way. Several months after the leadership workshops it was recognised that everyone involved in the program were a better version of themselves because a stronger connection was made between their role as a leader and the overall direction of the business.

“Everyone involved in the program was a better version of themselves because a strong connection was made between their role as a leader and the overall direction of the business.”

Establish business impact teams

The leadership development program also helped the leadership group to align their mindset and approach to the challenges that were being faced on a day to day. It enabled the group to go beyond their own projects and goals and to think more creatively about leveraging the diversity and expertise within their own teams and other functions of the business. The establishment of business impact teams and the framework for them to operate in was one of the best outcomes of the program. It was recognised that this initiative alone resulted in more innovation, drive and engagement at all levels within the organisation. Ashleigh Smith commented that the introduction of business impact teams was one of the key initiatives to reinvigorate subject matter experts and empower those that are closest to our customers and to challenge better ways of doing things internally.

“It has been one of the key initiatives to reinvigorate subject matter experts and empower those that are closest to our customers and to challenge better ways of doing things internally.”

Build the foundation to move from capability to contribution

The leadership capability development program was all about moving beyond strategic clarity and purpose to developing capability within the leadership group. The goal was achieved and the frameworks that were established has enabled further development activities to be undertaken. This has contributed to continued operational growth. The senior leadership team also believe the program has given them the confidence to invest further in the people across all business units, as the organisation moves from capability development to the contribution of every role within the organisation. The results have gone beyond the internal capability development of the leadership team. It has resulted in improved customer service and brand recognition for ATG. This was exactly what ATG had in mind when they engaged The Leadership Sphere to help in the first place!

“The success of the program has given us the confidence to move from capability development of the leadership group to contribution across every role within the organisation.”