Leading Without Formal
Authority

“The need to take this course came to light during a project that we’ve been working on over the past couple of years. My manager was the original lead but then passed it on to me. I needed actions performed and to gain feedback from colleagues in Germany. I was finding it very difficult to say to these people, who are managers and above me, ‘Look, I need this doing or the project can’t progress.’

“I’m also naturally quite introverted. My manager has noted this in appraisals and tried to help me be more confident and assertive. The hope was that this course would allow me to achieve that. I also liked how it would help me to understand other people’s way of thinking and how I could adapt my communication approach to that.”

“The two-day course took place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry and there was a wide range of people at different levels of management. Andy Webber led the course and was brilliant. He was bubbly, approachable and very friendly.

“Andy was very good at working out what sort of people were on the course and putting them into appropriate groups. To begin with, I was at the back, sort of hiding away. But Andy pulled me forward and got me involved. He made it clear to us all that he understood some people needed a bit of a push while others might need to be encouraged to hold back. He helped us all embrace different kinds of roles over the two days, so that we all took turns leading or being led.

“The course pushed us out of our comfort zones, in a good way. We worked in small groups and pairs doing different kinds of exercises. We’d often repeat the exercises, giving feedback to each other before presenting to the group to get further feedback. All feedback had to be constructive and Andy give us tips on how to achieve that. I found others’ input really helpful. The exercises were brilliant and really engaging.”

1 “For me, the greatest reason for taking this course is the confidence I’ve gained and how I now feel more assured of my own position.”

2 “The course has helped me adjust how I communicate with colleagues depending on who I am speaking to and their own communication style. It has enabled me to express myself my clearly.”

3 “It’s given me a better understanding of how different people work. It’s helped me find the most effective way of working with different kinds of personalities.”

“A year ago, I felt like I was bashing my head against a brick wall. I just couldn’t seem to communicate to some of my colleagues, some of whom were in a position senior to my own. I was trying to explain that I needed their input and how necessary that input was. I knew and understood they were busy, but I felt like my requests weren’t always treated with the importance that they needed to be. I would then have to ask my line manager to help.

“It’s so much better now and I’m leading from the front more. That’s good for my boss because he’s not having to ‘babysit’ me as much. I’m taking the reins more and it’s working really well.

“For example, I used to find it quite difficult to email superiors. I’d write an email, leave it for half an hour, go back and rewrite it, leave it for another half an hour, then rewrite again and so on. I now use fewer words, don’t include lots of data, state when I need feedback and so on. By being concise, I come across as more assertive and confident – and it works! I get the feedback on time.

“It’s also been good in my life away from work which I wasn’t expecting! It’s helped me realise that just because you have a difference of opinion, it doesn’t mean that you are wrong. In the past, I would just agree and shy away. I now know it’s not about an argument but having a respectful conversation between two people and appreciating each other’s views. I now feel I have got the authority to say, ‘I know where I stand.’”

1. “Expect to be pushed out of your comfort zone slightly. It’s definitely not two days of looking at PowerPoint slides.”
2. “Having said that, be positive. Go with an open mind and trust the trainer because he is absolutely brilliant. You will do an exercise and not realise what you’re learning until after you’ve finished. It’s so clever.”
3. “Be prepared to have fun! It is a really enjoyable course. I was talking about it non-stop with a colleague on the long drive home.”

“I’m going to take the skills I’ve learned into further projects that are coming up. These projects are increasing in intensity and are of significant value. My manager is trying to take more of a backseat and let me lead. This sits well with my target to become chartered in the next three years. 

“The course has set me up nicely with a solid foundation to build on for the future. I will be working not only with internal colleagues but external clients, too. These clients are very experienced and very clever – and we need to be able to collaborate and work together. I now feel I have the authority to recommend courses of action and dig my heels in if I need to.”