What the armed forces can teach organisations about leading under pressure
Many people are promoted into supervisory and management roles because they were good at their previous job, with no preparation for leading others. Research by the Chartered Management Institute found that 82 percent of managers in the UK had no formal management or leadership training, and that one in three workers had left a job because of a bad manager.
Others reach senior roles and find that leading change, or leading under pressure, demands skills nobody taught them. Effective leadership training closes that gap.
Why military leadership doctrine
Few organisations invest as heavily in leadership as the armed forces, because few depend on it so directly. Military leaders are trained to make decisions with incomplete information, to communicate clearly under pressure and to keep a team working towards a shared goal when the situation is changing quickly.
The British Army defines leadership as a combination of character, knowledge and action that inspires others to succeed. That definition works just as well in a boardroom, a hospital, a law firm or a security operations centre.
Our leadership training uses UK military leadership doctrine as its foundation. It explores the nature of leadership and the qualities good leaders share, what leaders need to know about their people, their task and themselves, what they do, and how they adapt their style to the situation and the team.
Learning by doing
Leadership cannot be learned from slides alone. In our leadership training, theory is always tested in practice.
Syndicate and scenario-based exercises put delegates in situations where they must communicate, solve problems, influence others and make decisions under pressure. Afterwards, each delegate receives honest feedback on how they performed and what they could do differently.
Our advanced programme takes this further, with immersive, mission-focused exercises that take delegates out of the classroom. They are challenging and practical, and are designed to show how each person leads when the situation is unclear and time is short. For many delegates, this is the first time they have seen their own leadership style under real pressure.
What the training covers
The programmes build the skills leaders use every day: communicating and briefing clearly, solving problems and making decisions under pressure, negotiating and influencing, and motivating a team and building cohesion. They also cover the harder parts of the role, including managing conflict and poor performance, making the move from team member to supervisor, and building the case for change and leading it through.
Choosing the right programme
Our leadership training is delivered as a set of programmes, so each person receives the level of development they need. Introduction to Leadership covers core principles and is delivered online or in person with interactive syndicate exercises. Advanced Leadership explores leadership theory in depth through immersive scenario-based exercises.
Team Building is an immersive problem-solving programme for intact teams, focused on cohesion and collective responsibility. Workplace Supervision gives newly promoted supervisors a practical toolkit for communication, motivation, problem solving and dealing with poor performance. Managing Strategic Change is for managers responsible for leading change, from setting objectives and strategy to stakeholder engagement and communication.
Leadership in a crisis
The real test of leadership often comes in a crisis. Many organisations combine our leadership training with our Crisis Management Preparedness & Response and Critical Decision Making Under Pressure courses. Together, they prepare leaders to make sound decisions and keep their teams focused when it matters most.
Our leadership training is designed for new and aspiring supervisors, middle and senior managers, and leadership teams in the public and private sectors. Programmes are delivered by experienced leaders, in person or online, and are built around your organisation and the challenges your leaders face.
Developed, not promoted
Good leaders are developed, not simply promoted. Leadership training built on proven military doctrine and tested in realistic scenarios gives people the confidence and skills to lead well, particularly when it is hardest to do so.
To discuss leadership development for your managers and supervisors, get in touch.