Tips from the top – Rector gives Imperial staff advice on how to be a good leader

Leadership masterclass for first cohort of the College’s new talent development programme - News

Friday 15 May 2009
By Naomi Weston

The first staff taking part in Imperial’s new talent development programme received a personal insight into the demands of leadership from Rector, Sir Roy Anderson this week.

Offering his top tips on good leadership he told the 12 participants from across the College: “Leadership is largely about trust; you need your staff to trust your judgement and your confidentiality. Experience is also important; you need to learn from your experience of interacting with people and constantly learn in your day to day life.”

He added: “Openness and honesty are also important; you must encourage discussion and debate in the workplace and constantly look at how things can be improved.”

Sir Roy was speaking at a masterclass, aimed at Professional Services level 4 staff, who are non-academic staff in junior and middle management positions at the College, taking part in Horizon, a 12 month programme. Horizon offers an accelerated development opportunity to these staff who both perform well within their current role and are deemed to have the potential to move into more senior roles within the College. While the programme does not guarantee promotion it puts staff in a good position to apply for jobs that may arise under normal selection and recruitment processes.

Horizon participants meet the Rector

Recognising internal talent in this way is vital, Sir Roy noted: “It is important that we provide staff with development opportunities and we need bright, talented people like you.”

The first cohort of staff were selected by a development panel of senior managers in their part of the College from manager or staff nominations.

Judy Barnett, Talent Development Manager, from the Human Resources Division at the College, says:

“The Horizon Programme builds on the learning and development options offered by the College and gives a new and focused development opportunity which is strongly supported by senior staff. It is an exciting programme offering a varied menu of shared and individualised learning and this is the first of four programmes that will take place over the next 12 months.”

The Horizon Leaders Programme is aimed at professional services staff at Level 4, from across the College and who have been in post for at least six months.

The programme includes leadership development modules covering areas such as leading and inspiring others, strategic thinking and decision making, self management and career planning. There are also masterclasses from internal and external speakers around their leadership experiences, one-to-one support from internal and external coaches and an elective, which enables the participants to shadow a member of senior staff in a different part of the College from where they work.

Isobel Anderson, Deputy Divisional Administrator in the Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA), is taking part in the programme. She said: “The programme so far has been really useful. One of the highlights was a two day residential development course which meant we got to go off site and get to know the other participants. I enjoyed the personal element of the programme where we received feedback on how best to enhance our impact and effectiveness.”

Fellow participant, Jude Grime, Senior IT Security Officer in Support Services, added: “The course looks at developing all round skills and not necessarily just leadership. It has made me think about how I can be better at my job and because the course is in stages it allows for time to be spent on following up ideas previously discussed with the group.”

The next cohort of level 4 staff is due to start in July 2009. For more information about the Horizon programme, please visit the website: www3.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/management/talentdevelopment/horizonleadersprogramme

Other opportunities for all staff to develop personal and professional skills are available from the Learning and Development Centre: www3.imperial.ac.uk/staffdevelopment