Traditionally there are many ways to strengthen and develop the leadership abilities within an organisation: lectures, workshops, coaching, mentoring and action learning projects are but a few. But rarely would you think about taking insights and inspiration from the world of theatre and comedy. This however is exactly where Accelerance took busy corporate leaders to learn about the art of leadership and building a “leadership brand”. Singapore offered the perfect setting for pushing the leadership innovation envelope further – here is how business met the performing arts.
Despite the widely-held belief that only 10% of leadership capability is developed in the classroom, 90% of training budgets are spent on programmes. A major financial services firm based in Asia decided to challenge this paradigm and help strengthen the “Leadership Brand” of 16 of their top regional leaders by expanding their mind-sets and repertoire, and harness their potential through “creative encounters”.
Using the principles of, reflective learning, discovery and experimentation, delegates explored and experienced new perspectives and new insights primarily from the world of the performing arts, all directly linked to the objectives set by the 3 day development program of strengthening influencing capability, developing stronger personal expression, and enabling more unique personal identities to emerge.
“When you think about it comedians have to carry an audience, influence mood states and invariably transmit a strong point of view. Theatre generally is about delivering a performance, storytelling and building a rapport with an audience, in both cases traits that leaders today need to have in their repertoire” observes the program facilitator, Alan Matcham. The facilitators working with the delegates then translate these experiences into action, combining the use of rigorous academic thinking with practitioner experience and what it really means for the delegates as they start to think about their own personal journeys and going back into work. The focus is always on, “what exactly will they do differently”?
Sponsored by the CEO of the region who contributes at the start of the program by setting the context and sharing his personal story, this exploration of self and others helps delegates develop a better framework for shaping the behaviours and mindsets that are required to lead effectively in the 21st century.
