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This innovative initiative was born out of observing a group
of ‘young’ co-workers in a workshop session.
It was obvious that certain individuals already possess
leadership, but are maybe being held back due to age or
available cash flow, and when companies discuss leadership,
they perceive ‘huge costs’ and ‘senior
management!’
As part of our company philosophy of abundant giving, we
focused on how we could overcome both of these obstacles,
which has now developed into this programme.
Ingram de Havilland run an accredited
ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management) leadership programme called
Walking with Wolves, which has been nationally recognised
by City & Guilds and has attracted delegates from all
over England and from a wide variety of organisations.
Our ‘Young Leaders of the Future’ will have
the opportunity to attend the Walking with Wolves programme,
exposing them to cutting edge communication tools as well
as traditional leadership and motivation techniques, plus
the shared experience of established and aspiring leaders
who are also delegates on the programme. During the 2 day
intervention, they will also have the rare opportunity to ‘walk’ with
real wolves and to learn from one of the UK’s leading
canine behaviour experts, the hierarchy of the wolf pack
and how it mirrors natural leadership.
Over the following 24 months the young leader will receive
regular coaching sessions to focus on successes and challenges
that they have experienced and to refocus them for the coming
period.
To qualify for an incredible 75% reduction
on the usual price, the young leader must be 21 or under
and be nominated
by their senior manager. There will be an initial
interview with the Ingram de Havilland board of directors,
then if
successful will need to complete some pre course work before
attending the programme.
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Innovative ILM accredited management training experts -
Ingram de Havilland (IDH) - have unleashed a unique leadership
training programme, where delegates get to walk with real
wolves.
The 'Walking With Wolves' programme is the brainchild of
IDH managing director Pauline Stewart who is living up to
her title of 'Bedfordshire Business Woman of the Year' by
delivering exciting, challenging leadership training developed
for managers who want to progress.
Walking With Wolves is an intensive two-day course, and
is a progression from IDH's 'Women In Leadership - The Confident
Leader'. The course covers a wide range of topics, including
the challenges faced by women in leadership, emotional intelligence,
self-confidence and assertiveness, and changing behaviour
and perceptions.
Delegates receive an ILM Level 5 Development Award upon
completion but the highlight for many delegates is undoubtedly
when they get the chance to walk with wolves in rural north
Bedfordshire.
Pauline Stewart explains 'As part of the course we match
the alpha female behaviour within a wolf pack to the behavioural
characteristics of today's successful business women. Thanks
to Phil Watson at the Anglia Wolf Society we have access
to a real pack of wolves and that sets this leadership training
apart from any other in the UK.'
According to Phil, the alpha female
plays a pivotal role in every pack of wolves. Along with
the alpha male, they
control access to resources, exploit other pack members'
strengths and weaknesses, and they can expertly manipulate
situations and individuals. As leaders they are confident,
socially independent and good at turning a situation to their
advantage. 'The wolves buff and rebuff each other all the
time; there is constant social testing,' Phil comments. 'These
are highly intelligent creatures, and they remember what
they got away with…. and what they didn't!'
Pauline adds, 'Although survival in the wild demands cruel
actions which aren't seen in the workplace, thank goodness,
examination of the alpha wolf's strategies provide real food
for thought about the way we can usefully assert ourselves
when it matters.'
Walking With Wolves is not just for women, men are welcome
on the course because it examines the different ways in which
men and women think and act. 'If you're a male senior manager
who wants to support and develop the women in your team,
then this course could be extremely enlightening,' says Pauline.
'Plus of course, if a company would like to send a men-only
delegation, then we'd be delighted to design a bespoke programme
just for them.'
Trish Palmer, Focus Residential ChildCare Services Ltd has
been on the Walking With Wolves programme and said: 'This
has been one of if not the best leadership training courses
I have been on. I have learnt new skills and approaches to
leadership which I was able to implement straight away. It
has already made a difference to me as a manager and a person
and I feel I have grown in confidence. This course has enabled
me to deal with difficult situations in my working environment.
I will use these new skills throughout my career as I have
found them invaluable.'
George Clarke and Mike Smith are the co-founders of Ingram
de Havilland.
Pauline Stewart joined the company in 2002.
Over the last ten years, IDH have won leading blue chip clients,
including Camelot, Volvo and Dunlop.
Looking ahead to the next twelve months, the team plan to
promote Walking With Wolves nationally and to launch "The
Six Thinking Hats", a brand new training programme in
conjunction with the Edward De Bono UK Foundation.
The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) is part
of the international City & Guilds group.
ILM is the largest provider of management education qualifications
in Europe, building the skills of over 85,000 managers and
leaders each year.
All ILM qualifications are designed to deliver practical
business benefit to the individual, their team and the organisation
they work for. ILM's qualifications are delivered by 2,000
further education colleges, universities, training providers
and companies in the UK and globally.
ILM is the professional membership body of choice for over
20,000 forward thinking managers and leaders providing a
wide range of member benefits, support and development opportunities
throughout their career.
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Pauline Stewart is the new Bedfordshire Business Woman of
the Year. Pauline, who works at Ingram De Havilland in Shefford,
did not even know that her co-director had nominated her
until she heard her name being read out at the ceremony!
In a heartfelt nomination, Mike Smith
had expressed his profound gratitude to Pauline for her
pivotal role in ensuring
that IDH not only survived but flourished. In his words, “it
is not just what she does, but the way she does it. She’s
like sunshine!” He went on to say that the inspiration
and support given by Pauline to her colleagues, associates
and all the delegates who attend the company’s leadership
and development courses were absolutely invaluable.
This year’s Awards, which attracted a record number
of entries, took place in the sumptuous surroundings of Woburn
Abbey’s Sculpture Gallery. Bedfordshire Businesswomen’s
(BBW) president Rebecca Caird began proceedings by thanking
the event’s two new major sponsors: Barclays and the
Bedford Development Agency. Christin van Geuze Jewellery,
Castle Promotions, Wright Connections and Hilliers HRW were
also thanked for their generosity and support. Then, outgoing
Business Woman of the Year Sally Aspinall of the Cerebral
Palsy Physiotherapy Centre in Flitwick gave a lively presentation
about the growth of her business – and importantly
how BBW has contributed to its success.
After a most thought-provoking introduction
about personal goal-setting and how we each define and
achieve success,
Team GB’s medal-winning athlete Liz Yelling presented
the prizes to this year’s winners.
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