Italiano

Xelion is the Italian investment banking division of the Unicredito Group

Objective

In early 2006, Xelion began to develop a senior and middle management leadership programme for 50 managers from central functions and sales. It needed to be innovative and challenging, with a focus on active leadership.

The managers needed to experience, reflect on and share the most effective leadership styles and behaviours, in order to manage, motivate and mobilise people according to the Xelion Leadership Profile and Values.

Solution

Impact Italia responded to Xelion’s needs by designing a Community Action Programme, to bring together the business and its communities for mutual benefit and learning.

The participants worked on a real project for Lega del Filo d’Oro, an Italian association supporting blind, deaf and dumb people. The leadership in action programme required participants to design and lead a fundraising campaign taking place in 100 Italian piazzas to generate 500,000 Euros. The programme comprises of 4 stages.

Phase 1: The Design: a three-day leadership programme during which the 50 managers worked in seven subgroups to design the fundraising campaign
Phase 2: Leadership in Action: managers use effective leadership behaviours to mobilise and motivate their people to take part in the campaign
Phase 3: Execution: deployment of the fundraising campaign across Italy
Phase 4: Follow-up: Review and celebrations

Result

The managers were deeply affected by the community experience and the real consequences of their leadership actions. The community partner directly benefited from Xelion’s expertise and energy and the improved competencies of the managers.

"The Community Action Programme “100 Piazzas – Xelion for the Community 2006” has got off to a good start. The design and organization phase of the project highlighted some good capabilities in our managers. It helped all of us to re-discover effective leadership behaviours. Furthermore, the CAP is helping to consolidate the integration process between the different areas of the company – an added bonus. All this happens within a framework of the highest emotional impact, which acts as a catalyst for motivation and makes the experience incredibly memorable. We believe that the programme will achieve its objectives - the training we have started will consolidate a distinctive leadership style which is coherent with the business objectives of the company."

Vincenzo Bafunno
CEO  Xelion

"The programme was a great experience for Lega del Filo d’Oro. We were very impressed by the commitment of the delegates and appreciated their huge effort to understand and to achieve all the goals set. They did an excellent job."

Rossano Bartoli
General Secretary of Lega del Filo d’Oro

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Download a PDF version of this case study in Italian -  xelion_italian.pdf (200.67 KB)

English

Obiettivo

All’inizio del 2006 Xelion aveva l’obiettivo di realizzare un percorso di Sviluppo delle Capacità di Leadership rivolto a 50 top e middle manager delle funzioni centrali e della rete. L’intervento doveva essere innovativo e sfidante, con un focus sulla sperimentazione delle capacità di leadership. L’esigenza era far condividere ai manager, attraverso l’esperienza e la riflessione, gli stili ed i comportamenti di leadership più efficaci per motivare e mobilitare le persone,  sulla base del Profilo di Leadership e dei Valori Xelion.

Soluzione

Impact Italia ha risposto all’esigenza di Xelion progettando un percorso di formazione manageriale esperienziale declinato nel sociale – Community Action Programme. I partecipanti ad un CAP sono impegnati a realizzare un progetto a favore di un ente no profit, scelto in coerenza con le esigenze ed i valori aziendali.

Il management di Xelion ha lavorato ad un progetto reale per la Lega del Filo d’Oro, l’associazione italiana che, dal 1964, si occupa dell’assistenza, riabilitazione e reinserimento delle persone sordocieche e pluriminorate psicosensoriali.

Il percorso di “Leadership in Azione” ha impegnato i manager Xelion nella progettazione e gestione di una campagna di raccolta fondi da realizzare in 100 piazze italiane, con l’obiettivo di raccogliere 500.000 Euro.

Il percorso è stato articolato in quattro fasi:

Fase 1 - Progettazione.Corso esperienziale sulla leadership di 3 giornate. 50 manager, suddivisi in 7 sottogruppi, hanno progettato la campagna di raccolta fondi.
Fase 2 - Leadership in Azione. I manager, nell’arco di un mese, hanno agito per mobilitare e motivare le loro persone a partecipare alla raccolta fondi. 
Fase 3 - Realizzazione. Due giornate di raccolta fondi in 100 piazze italiane realizzate dai manager ed i loro collaboratori.
Fase 4 - Follow-up. Una giornata per riflettere sull’esperienza vissuta, sull’apprendimento della leadership e celebrare il successo.

Risultato

I manager sono stati profondamente colpiti dall’esperienza vissuta nel contesto sociale e dalle conseguenze reali delle loro azioni di leadership. La Lega del Filo d’Oro ha beneficiato della competenza ed energia dei manager Xelion.

“Il Community Action Program “100 piazze – Xelion per il sociale 2006” è andato bene. La fase di workshop progettuale ha confermato alcuni aspetti che conoscevamo del nostro management – come l’attitudine ad impegnarsi con entusiasmo per conseguire il risultato – ed ha fatto scoprire o riscoprire a tutti e a ciascuno di noi le best practice dell’azione di leadership efficace. Questo CAP ha contribuito al processo di consolidamento ed integrazione tra le diverse componenti aziendali che era obiettivo non secondario del progetto. Tutto ciò in un framework di altissimo impatto emotivo che, oltre a catalizzare la motivazione, fisserà indelebilmente questa esperienza nel ricordo di tutti i partecipanti."

Vincenzo Bafunno
CEO Xelion

“Il CAP è stata una grande esperienza per la Lega del Filo d’Oro. Siamo stati molto impressionati dall’impegno dei partecipanti e abbiamo apprezzato il  loro enorme sforzo ad apprendere e raggiungere tutti gli obiettivi del progetto. Hanno fatto un lavoro eccellente.”

Rossano Bartoli 
Segretario Generale Lega del Filo d’Oro
 
Read more about Impact's approach to Inspiring Leaders
Read more about Impact's approach to Community Action Learning

Download a PDF version of this case study in Italian -  xelion_italian.pdf (200.67 KB)

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*NEW* click here for a Wates DLS Business Project update

Wates is one of the UK’s largest family-owned construction services and development companies. Established in 1897, Wates now employs over 2,000 people in the UK.

Objective

In 2003, Impact were approached by Wates to design a leadership development programme for middle managers and future leaders of the Group. Impact were asked to help balance the technical training delivered to this group with the introduction of key leadership competencies previously agreed by the Wates board. 

Delegates attending this programme are already high performers within the business and the further development of business-focused leadership skills is essential to aid their transition into senior managers.  The programme also needed to be practical and directly linked to the delivery of business results.

Solution

Working in close partnership with Wates, Impact designed a two-part solution comprising a five-day residential programme in the English Lake District and a one-day “Moving Forward” module delivered 6-8 months later.

The programmes are now in their 7th successful year and are delivered to around 40 managers annually.

This “Developing Leadership Skills” (DLS) programme incorporates practical experiential projects followed by facilitated reviews, self-awareness understanding using MBTI personality profiling and a full Coaching for Performance module.

Participants also start a number of carefully positioned real-world business projects (Project Pearl). These are then followed through on return to the business and finally presented to board directors at the 2nd module 6-months later.

Throughout the programmes, awareness and skills are developed through the use of peer and tutor feedback and personal and group reflection.

Result

“Our Developing Leadership Skills programmes have been extremely successful, combining leadership activities and peer feedback with business-specific projects requiring inspirational leadership in the workplace.  

A key objective for Wates in this programme is the transfer of learning back into the workplace and without a doubt the business projects allow this to happen.  A number of business projects are now in the implementation phase and are  adding value to the Group”.

Anthony Surley
Training and Development Manager 

*NEW* click here for a Wates DLS Business Project update

Read more about Impact's approach to Inspiring Leaders

Business Project Update

Overview

In 2003 Impact and Wates created the Developing Leadership Skills (DLS) programme. This programme is designed to help great managers understand how to become great leaders. The first module includes a mix of practical projects, dialogue and feedback sessions, facilitated to give participants insights into their leadership style and provide the opportunity to practice and develop new behaviours.

Business Project

At the end of module one, participants are tasked with forming small project groups and identifying a real business issue to find a solution to or a new idea to introduce into Wates. The project utilises their leadership, influencing and project management skills, whilst delivering real business improvements for their organisation. Participants have six months to work on their project - alongside busy day jobs - before presenting their recommendations to a member of the Wates’ Executive Committee.

The projects, known as 'Project Pearls', are often business process improvements, culture change projects or environmental initiatives.

In 2008 one team set a challenging vision for every Wates construction project to use a social enterprise in their supply chain. Social enterprises are businesses with social or environmental objectives whose profits are reinvested for that purpose. The recommendation was supported by the Executive Committee and has now progressed into a fully funded business project.

Result

This Project Pearl has provided a foundation for how the organisation engage with social enterprises to deliver goods and services in support of one of Wates' key priorities in 2010. The DLS participants’ recommendation has resulted in a contract worth £1.2M being awarded to Remploy – a labour agency used to supply and install PVCu windows for a project in Manchester. Contracts have also been awarded to social enterprises across the UK for office recycling, landscaping and catering services.

'We are delighted to see this Project Pearl becoming a business reality for Wates. The main objective of Project Pearl is to enable the DLS participants to put their leadership learning into practice. The groups learn the challenges of introducing business change, senior level influencing and project management. In this case, the Social Enterprise project will also bring real benefits to the communities we work in.'
Judith Bufton
Head of Leadership and Development

To read more about the DLS programme click here

 

Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company, engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. 

Objective

Impact were brought in to help create and facilitate a powerful learning experience, enabling the newly formed team from the Hess Phu Horm Gas Project in Thailand to develop as a ‘High Performing Team’. The programme also needed to build strong links with the community through a real project with direct benefits.

Solution

Impact worked in partnership with Hess to design and deliver a three-day programme that engaged the team with facilitated review discussions, applicable theoretical team development inputs, a series of experiential team activities and a carefully designed community-based project with tangible outcomes.

The Udompattana School in Khon Kaen, with over 260 students, was selected as an appropriate community partner for projects that would help the school, local community and the development of the team.

The team of twenty-four delegates from Hess formed four working groups to take on the community action project at the school. The project involved working closely alongside students and teachers, at the hub of the activity, to transform and landscape a garden space, and paint a block of six classrooms.

The Hess team also helped prepare a special lunch for the students and selected members of the local community. This was an important element of the project and a real highlight for team as they developed their relationships with each other, students, teachers and the local community on a larger scale.

The projects were designed to make the best use of the team’s skills and experience. Everyone needed to work together, taking responsibility and ownership for their actions in order to make a significant difference to the school’s environment. 

Result

The community action project blended individual and team development with real community needs. It was a catalyst for developing strong links between the Hess team and the local community.

Both the Hess team and the Udompattana School were motivated by the results of all their hard work and commitment, and felt a great sense of achievement.

"Impact did an outstanding job of developing a programme that was both beneficial to the community and to the needs of our new team. It was obvious that the planning and execution of the programme were extremely professional, which allowed us to focus on the 'high performing team' exercises and the community project. The three days were professionally and personally very rewarding."
Julian Butcher
Field Operations Manager
Hess (Thailand) Ltd

Read more about Impact's approach to High Performing Teams
Read more about Impact's approach to Community Action Learning 

 

Vedior is one of the world's largest recruitment companies and is a full-service recruitment provider with a diverse portfolio of brands targeting a broad range of industry sectors.

Objective

The remit was to work with the Top Managers of Vedior France to focus on team development and the basics of project management.

Solution

Impact designed a two-day ‘Top Manager’ programme in conjunction with ESCP EAP, a leading European business school in Paris.

The programme consisted of eight sessions, each for up to 16 of Vedior France’s Top Managers. They were given the challenge of creating a 15-minute news broadcast, reporting on current activity at Vedior.

This proved to be a complex project for the delegates to manage. Tasks included defining subject matter, editorial, film-making, location sourcing, acting and managing the ‘extras’. Impeccable organisation, leadership and time keeping were essential throughout.

The final recording of the broadcast will be screened during the next module of the programme.

Result

‘Making the television news programme with everyone helped me to understand a lot about communication and project management. In addition, we have a very high quality DVD that promotes this team work’

‘Thanks to this programme, we have the basis of project management and we have strengthened the team’

‘The technical aspects of the project and the obligation to work together have opened my mind to interpersonal techniques and management skills’

Read more about Impact's approach to High Performing Teams