Purpose led leaders: Meet Tammy Banks Co-Founder & CEO Taye Training

"Surround yourself with people with the same values...different skills...but always the same values. If you do that, it will be exceptional."

Tammy is values-led and so is her organisation. If you are looking for inspiration on how to really walk-the-talk and set up something led by values that are lived and breathed, talk to Tammy Banks.

Her journey to Co-Founder & CEO of Taye Training is an inspirational one. Tammy became homeless at 15 and lived in a hostel for the rest of her teenage years. Since leaving school at 14 with no qualifications she became the CEO of re:shape in 2013 and ultimately went on to found Taye Training (with business partner Faye Fox) in 2019. In 2017, she became one of only seven Lay Members of the parliamentary Committee on Standards.

This lived experience and drive to transform lives underpins how she runs Taye Training (a training and development specialist, working to change the lives of both delegates and their service users). Taye only offers services in subjects that the facilitators have experience of working in, both operationally or strategically. They deliver all their sessions using their 'Training 4 Influence' methodology. EXPERT-ENGAGING-TAILORED-VALUES LED. This is the only values-led qualification in existence and has meant she has been recognised by the Women in Innovations Awards.

At Taye they recruit, onboard and train their staff using the very same training methodology. They value experts with high quality facilitation and communication skills as well as lived experience - irrespective of background. Tammy's entire philosophy is built on the fact that her team are both experts as well as recipients of training, in any other context, and critically the recognition that everyone's lives are complex.

She applies her philosophy to delegates when delivering training - they are both experts and delegates - so they come into the room with a range of personal values and skills. These should be respected and so trainer and participant are fully aligned.

Taye designs all their training to meet the needs of the organisation and the people in the room: to meet diverse learning styles and neurodiversity. Their entire way of working is based on an aspiration to provide equitable access to learning; that everyone in the room has the same opportunity to learn.

"The 'golden thread' of all our work is that we are led by these values. Irrespective of the training aims we start by exploring each individual's 'why' - why do they work there...what are their personal aims and try to connect that with their organisation, and their sector's why. The real magic of our training is that value comes from the people in that room"

So, how do you achieve real values-led operations?

Tammy's advice to anyone who wants to lead an organisation that 'walks -the-talk' is to start with your values from the point you recruit someone.

• We ask new recruits about their personal values from the start. We host large information events during which we outline our values and how we work. This allows space for people to listen and make a decision without pressure. They can walk away if they don't like what they hear.
• We have a hierarchy of responsibilities rather than importance. We have line management because people need clarity of access to 121 support, HR advice and regular check-in. But beyond that we encourage open communication and equality.
• Fortnightly team meetings are open. Everyone is encouraged to bring forward their thoughts. Our philosophy is there isn't a 'just anything' item - everyone and everything is valuable.
• We have set up an online secure community - a safe space for CPD, resources, events and mutual support. Everyone is encouraged to use it, introduce themselves, seek support and check in with one another.

The feedback she has received via that forum is affirming and inspiring to Tammy.

It has been a space in which people have expressed how the company culture has made them finally feel at ease, sometimes for the first time in their career.

Tammy believes that if you start from a shared appreciation that life is complex, people catch one another, own their own development and do their best work.

"I want my staff to love what they do; value what they do. I want them to stay working here and to feel confident, skilled and engaged. My vision about the purpose of Taye (to provide training that has an impact on people) and how we run Taye are one and the same. People are people are people. People deserve good services."

Tammy has a clear passion for her purpose. She believes that good training can transform lives. Taye recruits, supports and trains operational experts to develop and deliver tailored training to Charities, Criminal Justice and Social Care. With better skilled employees, these organisations can provide a better service to those from vulnerable marginalised groups. This was Tammy's answer to her first WHY?.

But in so doing, Tammy's leadership has driven a much broader positive impact. She has created and developed a training methodology which is suitable for all learners, and she wants to change the reputation and scale of training:

"I want to increase everyone's expectations of training and what it can achieve."

Tammy will be again walking the talk in the pursuit of her purpose by using the prize money from Innovate UK to invest in a scholarship programme for women to access her 12-week Train-the Trainer programme. It is the only Level 4 train-the-trainer qualification which is specifically written for those who deliver to frontline organisations. You can find out more here: https://training4influence.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Training-4-Influence-Leaflet.pdf

She has also just launched trailblazing National Facilitator Awards (in partnership with MyOhMy Events ). The aim of these awards are to celebrate facilitators who deliver quality training. It is part of a mission to change perspectives, to help people recognise that training can change lives, and that it is far more than a tick box exercise.?

Anyone can enter or nominate someone who delivers quality, impactful training. Nominations open on 19 April, and you can find out more by joining their mailing list: https://forms.gle/DJSV3jfixMUNrHpx9

So does Tammy find any of this challenging as a leader?

" Well yes, Faye and I built this business very incrementally - we started out meeting a specific training need, but as we were asked for more and more...and we sought feedback as to why they wanted us...we started to analyse and understand what we were doing differently; what set us apart. All this informed our methodology and our values. Now we are known for it, being recognised, sought out...and people are watching.

We have been identified as in a perfect position to scale by Innovate UK and we are now actively going for growth. We will need to ensure we maintain what makes us unique as we grow.

Tammy wants to ensure their methodology keeps its magic and they are as still as good on the ground tomorrow as they are today. She realises that as they grow the likelihood of working with people who don't or can't align with her values in reality needs to be faced. There will be challenges which need to be faced.

Her approach will be to continue to invest in the initial training of all new staff. All recruits receive 3 months of core training on their methodology, irrespective of their facilitation experience. "I will continue to build the community and tools to feel a part of it. It is key to have principles that run through your organisation EXPERT-ENGAGING-TAILORED-VALUES LED, and translate them into lived company values: Equity, honesty, safety and belonging."

"We will need to ensure we are constantly checking-in with our people. Relationships come first and I genuinely believe that if you look after your people, the rest looks after itself."

The future success of Taye will be defined by Tammy's recognition of the fact that life is complex. Accept that fact and do what you can to simplify and streamline how you operate. If you surround yourself with people with the same values you have something which unites you. It is far easier to challenge one another and ask difficult questions if you have trust in your colleague's intent. The way people operate - the how - should be seen to run through the organisation.

This idea is simply characterised by the teamwork of the two founders, Tammy and Faye. As an operations expert with an eye for detail and scrutiny of quality, Faye trusts Tammy to be the one who much prefers to drive vision, strategy and business development. As a regular keynote and TedX speaker, Tammy shines a light on their shared purpose and values.

They each surround themselves with the other's different brilliance.

The outcome?

Exceptional strides in training that transforms people's lives.

Why Kindness makes ALL the difference | Tammy Banks | TEDxHolgateWomen - YouTube A spotlight on Tammy Banks could have covered considerable ground - she is an inspiration on what it looks like to lead through adversity, having personally overcome so much herself; or the reality of relative privilege and what you can do to level the playing field. Today she shared her perspective on values led leadership and how it makes the difference. If you want to learn more, please check out her book, 'Transform your training'(Re:think Press, 2020), TedX talk and the Taye Training website below.

Taye Training combines legislation and best practice with ‘real life’ experience to deliver outcomes that exceed expectations. All their training is tailored to your needs. They can deliver face to face at your venue or as live online training.

Their consultants are specialists in many different areas, such as safeguarding, multiple disadvantages, governance, risk management and organisational change. They are matched to you based on your need and their experience.

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We support leaders to uncover, articulate and activate their purpose; grow their businesses; achieve high performance through highly effective teams; and have a greater and better impact on the world.?But there is no one type of great leader.?

We have been meeting with inspirational real-life leaders from our network to understand their leadership style.

We have captured their ideas in a series of newsletters, entitled Purpose led leaders.

We will shine a light on different people and their individual approach to leadership.

We hope you find the series interesting, inspiring and valuable to you wherever you may be on your leadership journey.

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