Break out of the same-old…

“Whether you’re starting your first job, moving to a new one, or trying to break out of the same-old, there are ways of working that can give you a big advantage”
Sai Jetha, The Smarts

In all sectors of employment, there is a need to find staff who desire to grow and can develop. More and more young people are looking for a way to find meaning in their work, but also to be able to grow and develop further. Finding ways to meet those needs can be difficult – everyone is looking for an advantage, the trick is to recognise it when it appears.

I have been struck by the number of people who have expressed interested in the outcomes of the Launching Young Leaders workshop and who say they know a number of other friends or colleagues who they think might benefit from a short experiential leadership workshop, but the person they have in mind, does not consider themselves a leader. Are you someone who doesn’t think they are a leader? Perhaps it’s how you understand leadership?

At the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, leadership is both an area for development and a practical skill. For us, leadership takes into account the ability of an individual or organisation to “lead” or guide themselves, other individuals, teams, or entire organisations, with the purpose of making a positive difference in society. This is a definition that can be applied more broadly, but the core concepts remain consistent.

Often when exploring issues and questions of leadership, it is the upfront dynamic and charismatic leader that is held in mind. This is an image that can exclude a large number of people. We picture Barack Obamas’ quiet charisma, or Bob Geldof’s passion, Malala Yousafzai’s fearlessness or Shirin Ebadi’s commitment to justice and think “I’m not like that…”  One quality that these leaders have in common is a strong sense of inner authority.

What is inner authority? It is a sense of personal authority, it is having a well-developed sense of who you are and what you can do.  Inner-authority informs where you want (or think you can) go. It informs your ability to communicate emotions and behaviours on the way and your ability to influence through your communication style. Inner authority informs the quality of your voice; not just how you sound, but the ability to say how you feel in important moments.

The Launching Young Leaders workshop is a one day programme aimed at young professionals who desire to grow and develop their leadership skills; with the focus on self-leadership and the development of inner authority. You will have an opportunity to explore your personal internal leadership hierarchy. You will discover how others experience your leadership style and have the space to notice the qualities you have and the actions you take in groups.

In his book The Smarts from where the opening quote is taken, Sai Jetha suggests that there are ways to get ahead, there are a few practical skills and a few experiential skills that will sharpen and challenge the way you work and how you lead from the inside out. Launching Young Leaders will help you take those steps.

Coreene Archer
Director, Launching Young Leaders