Learning to be leaders
New recruits get off to a flying start as they begin this year’s SELECT Effective Manager Programme
The new intake of candidates for SELECT’s Effective Manager Programme have taken their seats – and are already on the path to becoming better leaders.
Thirteen new recruits have signed up for the one-year training course run by SELECT and Edinburgh Napier University, which aims to help them improve and develop their management skills.
Diane Peebles, the programme’s leader, said: “We have a bright and engaged group of managers this year, who are all enjoying the opportunity to explore various different aspects of management and to take time to think about their own approach and style of managing.
“So far, we’ve covered an introduction to management and leadership, looked at the importance of looking after your own and others’ mental health and wellbeing at work, and we’ve also explored communication styles and approaches.
“All the workshops are highly participative and our current students have entered into this with enthusiasm and interest.”
The SELECT programme, which started in September, follows the success of 11 previous courses run in conjunction with the university.
Diane added: “This year’s group have quickly realised that they will learn as much from each other as they do from our experienced tutors, and are enjoying the opportunity to think about how they will take different approaches back to their workplace. Their first written assignments are due in December, and as programme leader I am looking forward to seeing how the students are applying their new knowledge back at work.”
As the new intake set out on their pathway, Diane shared a letter from one of the previous graduates who took the time to thank her for what he’d learned on the course.
Alasdair Noble, from John Noble Electrical Contractors Ltd, said: “I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your help and guidance over this past year.
“I feel I really developed as a manager during the course and rarely a day goes by where I don’t use something I’ve learned to aid me in my work.
“The content of the course was great and I often refer back to my notes to reassure myself that I’m taking the right path of action. I also reflect a lot more on how things went and how things could be done differently going forward, learning from both good and bad outcomes.
“I can’t thank you enough and just hope you realise what a fantastic difference you are making to the way people manage themselves, their staff and their companies in general.”
