How to build an effective leadership team: Take them to the woods!

Last month we launched the first Acacium Group Leadership Camp, bringing together 20 senior leaders from across the Group. Some might argue plucking leaders away from their work and dropping them into the wilderness for two days isn’t the best use of time or resource – I disagree. Here’s why;

Business is ambiguous?

The only thing we can be certain of in business is uncertainty. Our Leadership Camp removes the distractions of the everyday. Attendees can no longer rely on the patterns of behaviour they lean on to order the chaos of their inbox, to do list or inner thoughts.?The ‘always on’ culture ?of business today makes it difficult to get the time or space needed to reflect on personal and professional development. I’ve been doing these camps in some respect or another for the last 10 years and I remember a time when you couldn’t get phone signal in these rural holiday parks – it was perfect!

Our invitation to camp was fairly ambiguous in its self. No agenda, no timetable and no instructions. Just a time and a place to meet. Few people really know one another beyond the odd email or Team’s message, which really cranks up the ‘first day at school’ feelings.

Our recruits kick off the first night with some good food, drink and company, with no idea what to expect over the next few days - and you’ll get no spoilers here!

Narrowing the lens

‘What makes a great leader?’ is a question that book ends the camp experience. It’s one we get remarkably different answers to before and after camp. Our teams start with a broad lens of what good leadership is; ‘communication, teamwork, grit, vision, compassion, confidence…’.

Over the next few days, our recruits undergo some exercises - mental and physical – which allow them to ruminate on what good leadership means to them, personally. These sessions act as a mirror. Our leaders discover and explore their own strengths and weaknesses, identifying ways and means to accelerate their development.

Developing a common language

Leadership camps don’t just benefit the individual, they help us realise our business goals. These sessions create comradery, breaking down business silos and encouraging innovation. It’s a cup of coffee or a phone call in place of an email. I’ve seen friendships and support networks form in these environments that last for a lifetime – and I count myself incredibly lucky to have gained a few myself.

These camps are also an opportunity to highlight what we want from Acacium Group leaders, what we expect and how we want our people to be treated. We all come to a mutual understanding of what a good leader can be. I want to be clear – this is not about creating management clones but developing a commonality of language that will empower our leaders to support their own teams to be the best that they can be.

Authenticity is key. We’re a diverse business and our strength lies in our differences. There’s huge power in our different perspectives so we want our leaders to not only feel comfortable in being themselves but also champion it in others. This is how we can nurture our future talent pipelines – which is critical in a fast-growth business like ours.

The end of camp is just the beginning

We end camp with a perception exercise, where our recruits can see themselves through the eyes of their peers. It can be surprisingly emotional. It’s truly a joyous thing to see when something just clicks, when some leaders can finally shrug off the imposter syndrome to realise they belong. There’s been smiles, tears and laughter – often with a palpable excitement for what’s next. For what’s in the art of the possible.

In the weeks and months following camp, our leaders enjoy dedicated one on one coaching sessions to help them realise their personal and professional ambitions. This really helps to digest what they’ve learnt and implement it in their day to day.

Initiatives like this are the embodiment of our Acacium Group values; Driven by excellence, putting people first and always by your side. This first Acacium Group Leadership Camp was a real success, and it’s one we’ll be rolling out across the Group. So, as to why I think all organisations should banish their leadership to the woods; it’s an investment. And it’s one your business can’t afford not to make.

Looking to develop?

Do you feel supported to develop in your role? Acacium Group is global business with a number of exciting opportunities at all levels – from apprenticeships to senior management, across our 26 market leading brands. Our organisation exists to improve people’s lives through expert healthcare, social care and life sciences. We do that by always putting people first – and that starts with our team.

Take a look at our current list of vacancies if these values speak to your own.?