Designing and executing an 8 week leadership development programme

As I reflect on my most intensive season at work, these were some of my experiences and takeaways for my future self.

For context, programme participants were youths recruited across the country based on mission fit towards ending education inequity and a few other competencies assessed through a rigorous filtration process. The programme has happened to a satisfactory level of success. There were things we did well and didn't do well. This is a post of my personal retrospection of it.

Before Day 1

Anchoring myself to the programme goals was crucial, as this sets the foundation for all the designs and assessments towards ensuring progress and achievement. Once I internalised the programme goals, I was able to then craft the vision of the learning experience for the participants.

What I missed planning intentionally here was the vision and experience for the staff team who's running the programme.

Second, having a good team, who have been given clarity in their roles and how they can contribute to the programme’s success, will equip everyone with a sense of purpose in this journey. More importantly, investing time in ensuring rapport is built and allowing time for everyone to get to know each other’s ways of working should be among the first few things to get done before real operational work begins.

Thirdly, it is crucial to obtain clarity on the budget of the programme as that will be one of the main constraints of the programme, which is also a great catalyst to how creative the team can be, to produce high quality output with limited resources. It is balancing between planning with an abundance or scarcity mindset.

Once the above are in place, look into the deadlines and backwards plan the milestones towards it. Then, put routines in place with clear outcomes from every routine towards providing the team with sense of safety, belonging, and achievement. Consider how might we ensure alignment with the team and participants, provide space to fail, and celebrate progress along the way?

During

The programme was designed to build strong relationships between everyone who were involved and experiencing it, especially between the participants. At the same time, it was intended to nurture and strengthen their self awareness along with a long list of other competencies towards preparing them for serving in different communities after the programme.

Imagine games, debates, panel speakers, group discussions, morning exercises, quirky challenges, team practices, role plays, lectures, and lots and lots of reflections.

Make sure failures and successes are both celebrated often.

My learnings:

Don't be afraid to pause to allow unpredictable circumstances and its consequences to take place, and then consider the next move properly towards a longer term impact. #nextonewillbebetter

At the same time, don't be afraid to pivot and change how things are done to enable quicker iterations towards the betterment of subsequent days. Just be sure to anchor it back to the outcomes of the programme that we want to work towards.

The best part is, believe in and fully optimise the foundations laid before Day 1, and trust the collective capabilities of the team to pull things together.

And... keep the essence of yourself that makes the chaos bearable. E.g. hold the sense of humour close to heart. This is not a matter of life and death, and everything can be a learning moment for a better me for the next programme/role I may hold.

Post programme

The last day of the programme is not the last day of the project. Ensure the routines and end programme follow ups are completed and learning loops closed. This means giving closure through not only a formal closing event, but through data and reflections after the programme has ended. Figuratively dissect the body before burying it for good, or in business-lingo - conduct a post mortem.

Celebrate

Find time to celebrate the team for the completion of the programme. It would have been hard work and lots of learnings for the team as well. Ensure everyone feel appreciated and acknowledged, especially knowing this is a long term game and these experience held by all involved will be priceless commodity to the bigger movement.

Consolidate

Collect, analyse, and document learnings from all data points, including optimisation of resources (human and non), consolidation of expenses against budget, achieving of goals, feedback from participants and guests, etc. Main goal would be to clearly identify a shortlist of strengths and points of iteration for any subsequent similar programme we may have.

This is a very simplified and understatement of the reality and behind the scenes of this programme. #iykyk