People are the Heart and Soul of Business Success

In today's business landscape, it can be easy to get caught up in the latest trends and technologies to help us gain a competitive edge. But as the Māori proverb goes,

‘Anei te pātai nui: He aha te mea nui o te ao?

Ko te whakautu: He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!

Here is the important question:

What is the most important thing in the world?

The answer is:

He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!

It is people! It is people! It is people!’

Just as people are the lifeblood of every community, so too are they the heart and soul of business. In other words, organisations that prioritise their people - and invest in further education and development opportunities for their employees - reap the rewards in the long run.

Here at the University of Auckland Business School's Executive and Professional Development team, we understand the value of investing in people, and our aim is to provide course participants with the knowledge and skills they need to embrace the future with confidence and greater impact.

Our programmes are designed to combine academic thought leadership with industry expertise, resulting in courses that are both relevant and future focused. And by offering a diverse range of courses, we help professionals at any career level acquire the tools they need to adapt to an ever-changing business environment.

Customised courses – for bespoke solutions

Dr Rachel Wright, Director of Executive and Professional Development (EPD) at the University of Auckland, notes a shift occurring in the mindset of businesses. "In the past, employees have been regarded as a headcount that can be applied to add value to the organisation. That's all gone now. The value equation has been flipped. Organisations need to change to think about the perspective of the employee and how they can enrich the career of individuals, so they can then in turn help the company be more productive and have greater impact.”

Our customised programmes offer a solution for organisations to show team members just how valued they are by providing opportunities for growth in areas they're looking to develop. Partnering with EPD's team of experts to co-create a tailored programme means increased capability with measurable impact that improves outcomes for staff individually and the business long term - it’s an ideal way to empower the people within your organisations.

Course advocate, KPMG New Zealand's success in leadership development is a prime example of the transformative impact such programmes can have says Executive Chair, Matt Prichard. They have embarked on a 3-year tailored leadership programme with 105 of their Partners, which followed a well-received pilot version involving seven Partners. When all the new values and characteristics of leadership are aligned and applied, “that’s a beautiful thing.”

Click here to discover more about our Customised development solutions.

“These days, leadership skills are changing even faster than ‘new knowledge’ skills [that people require]. Leadership used to be much more about management skills and delivering efficiently – efficient management of the business. “Those things are now largely taken for granted or replaced by automation. What’s needed now is a lifelong learning system, not just something ad hoc. That’s why we began working with the Business School, and I have to say we are delighted with the results.” Matt Prichard, Executive Chair, KPMG New Zealand.

Short courses – to go further faster?

Organisations that prioritise values and growth mindsets are not only increasing the productivity of current employees but also attracting skilled talent from around the world. With organisations becoming brands themselves, the next generation of graduates seek to work for organisations that align with their values and sense of purpose.

"We're seeing a significant change, particularly as the younger generation come through in the workforce, take on more responsibility, and bring in new ideas and ways of thinking. There's been a massive shift in terms of what their expectations are, as employees, consumers, and businesses have to respond to that to stay relevant," adds Dr. Wright.

Our wide range of short courses are designed to help individuals from various career levels grow their skillsets in a specific business area, and develop their career. Specific topics range from Strategic Decision Making in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous World, Leadership that Motivates High Performance, Adaptive Strategy, Collaboration and Teamwork: Unlocking the Power of Effective Engagement, Management Essentials and Finance for Non-Financial Managers, through to Strategies for Collaboration and Teamwork, Advanced Communication, and more.

These quality courses offer truly tangible impacts on personal and team outcomes with experienced facilitators, such as Associate Professor Michael Lee, Director of MBA at the University of Auckland Business School and Dr. Peter Blyde, an industry leader in executive leadership development. Catering to working professionals seeking to stay ahead of the changing business environment through lifelong learning, helping to enable personal confidence and enhanced work performance and driving business results.

Click here to discover our wide range of short courses.

Building a Compelling Business Case:

“There were a number of good takeaways around how to measure tangible and intangible benefits, financial basics, dealing with uncertainties, breaking down and comparing projects. Most importantly, I found the tips for communicating appropriately to stakeholders and business owners helpful.” Rafe Verkerk, Engineering Manager, Cornerstone OnDemand”

The Transitioning to C-Suite programme – preparing leaders to step up.

Change flows from the top down, and senior managers and CEOs within organisations have to be the people influencing their teams and encouraging a new model of leadership.

Professor Brigid Carroll, Professor of Management and International Business says, “The old model of a leader sitting at the top of a chain of responsibility, pulling a company along with the strength and depth of that leader's knowledge, personality and vision has gone. Now leadership can't belong to a person in a position of responsibility – we need leadership which travels up, activates at the frontline, and operates horizontally.”

Leadership must be distributed and adaptive, with a focus on instilling a sense of purpose throughout the organisation. This approach requires leaders to act as facilitators and connectors, rather than just those in charge. By investing in leadership development, organisations can teach promising staff to build strategic and executive capabilities, that can ultimately support changes that drive increased productivity in the business or organisation.

Transitioning to C-Suite is our flagship strategic leadership programme designed to prepare talented mid-senior managers and directors for more senior leadership roles. By blending academic rigour with industry pragmatism, this three-month programme includes all the tools and frameworks that build confidence to operate at a senior strategic level. The curriculum includes collaborative case studies, thought leadership discussions, and interaction with faculty members, industry practitioners, and a diverse cohort. Additionally, executive peer coaching is provided to support personal growth and development.

Participants learn from world-class experts and industry leaders to gain nuanced insights into leadership challenges and opportunities, the skills to operate at the executive leadership level in today’s business environment.

Investment in leadership development is a smart decision that can help you to engage and retain talent and also bring about change, as the benefits trickle down through the organisation providing strength and support to others, ultimately driving positive change in culture and performance.

Click here to hear from some 2022 participants about their experience.

“From my point of view, it is the only programme of its kind that develops senior leaders into a C-Suite ready executive.” Sally Williams, Employment Relations Manager, Airways New Zealand.

Here at the University of Auckland Business School our courses and programmes are designed to enhance the capabilities of unique individuals, teams, and organisations to create a transformative impact.

We’ll leave the final words to Dr Rachel Wright, our EPD Director: "The traditional world of work is rapidly disappearing; if firms want to attract and retain talent, the next few years are going to require some massive leadership and mindset changes. So we can't just do the New Zealand thing and muddle through. In the end, we all must make this change. It will be good for New Zealand as a whole.”

Interested to learn more?

Our experts can answer any questions or provide a tailored recommendation to support your learning or your unique organisation. Request a call back or visit our website today.

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