Managers use leadership programme to successfully drive strategic change

Andy Fisher and Elaine Webb from Lustalux Ltd, Preston are recent graduates of the AIM Programme, created and run by People Power Coaching.

This three stage learning experience has taken them both on an 18 month development journey that has been pivotal in shaping the future for themselves and the business.

Using this investment as an opportunity to allow them to influence the strategic direction has paid dividends and as such, some of their achievements include:

• Repositioning and upgrading their own brand

• Doubling their premises in size, to include a state of the art showroom

• Purchasing large scale new machinery 18 months early to service new (dream) clients.

• Andy and Elaine have both been promoted and new employees have been brought in

• The managing director has been able to reduce his working days

As a result, the organisation has come alive. There is a satisfying buzz about the place and they are working more creatively than ever.

Richard Lancaster, managing director, said: "We recently held one of our regular full team meetings where our entire staff at Lustalux get the opportunity to discuss in an open forum any issues or ideas they may have for the good of the company.

"Normally as MD it is expected of me to "chair" the meeting and generally control the proceedings which I was expecting to do as usual.

"On this occasion however my presence was rendered almost superfluous by two members of staff who stood out and showed real leadership qualities.

"Both spoke with confidence and enthusiasm outlining their hopes and aspirations for the company in a way that made me proud to be their boss. It was certainly a seminal moment for me and as a naturally autocratic type it caused me to reflect.

"Now, I am not getting any younger and although I am not ready to take a back seat just yet, I am looking at a succession strategy rather than an exit strategy. To leave a business legacy and to create a passive income you need the right people in place to carry the "brand" forward into the future.

"Elaine and Andy were put through a series of modules on People Power's AIM Programme where they have been mentored, coached and taught and challenged in a group environment. What a difference it has made and will carry on making!

"I can't emphasise strongly enough that team development is money well spent and I would urge any SME to think about investing in their people. "We currently have a third team member, George Lancaster, enrolled with People Power and we don't limit opportunities to a privileged few. Everyone at Lustalux Ltd will benefit from our culture of promoting personal and professional development. So who knows I may become surplus to requirement sooner than I thought."