If you are a leader, a manager or in any position of authority, would you be willing to have someone observe you working?

Well in one sense leaders are already being observed, by the people around them. From the moment we wake up in the morning people are continually forming judgments about our actions, what we say, our behaviours, and how we make them feel. This level of observation simply becomes more relevant in the workplace.

There’s a second way to interpret this:

Ofsted observe UK schools to help teachers meet a standard

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) observes drivers to maintain a road safety standard

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) help food outlets to maintain food safety and hygiene across the UK so we don’t get sick

These types of agency work to raise performance up to a minimum standard. Some also grade excellence (for example, the sticker on the window of your favourite restaurant, showing an Hygiene rating of 5, or the Ofsted school rating of ‘Outstanding’)

In management and leadership terms, this would be a fairly blunt approach, but may improve the quality of the worst leaders, by bringing them up to a standard. Whilst organisations like ILM and CMI attempt to maintain these standards, there’s no real monitoring in place to check that, just because someone holds a Level 5 Management Certificate they are actually leading with integrity and compassion on a day-to-day basis.

Then, there’s a third way to interpret this:

Imagine a safe, trusted space in which leaders can go about their normal day and receive some personal development, based on real-life not role-play, to become even more effective ?

Imagine how transformational it could be spending one whole day observing a leader’s strengths and opportunities while they work, coaching them through improvements, overcoming life and work obstacles – all in a discreet, 1-2-1, supportive way.

Seems simple right ? So why don’t we observe leaders more whilst they work?

Most research and thinking (since the time of the Ancient Greek philosophers) suggests that

doing the real thing is the best way of learning.

We know that up to94% of what people learn on a management course could be forgotten within a short time of being back at work, although lots of complex factors impact this (Thalheimer)

Here at www.regionalmanagerdevelopment.com we take leadership and personal development out to people where they need it most – as they are working !!

Importantly, no conversation is off limits – our coaches are qualified and able to help the WHOLE PERSON – not just the work you – we believe that you are one person and if there’s something affecting your home life it will also impact your work performance.

For a chat about how this simple, yet highly effective development day(s) could work for your organisation please contact simon@regionalmanagerdevelopment.com or call 0044 (0)7947 479175

Simon Thomas DHypPsych. CIPD. ISMA. CMI

Talent Management | Stress Management | World-Class Learning Training & Facilitation