Time to Rethink Officer Training? Introducing Gromentum

What is needed?

Selective, on-demand learning content

Emphasis on reflective practice and micro-learning

Community and peer-to-peer learning

Commitment to creating positive change

Affordable investment in officer development

If you’re responsible for officer development in an Organisation Representing Students (ORS), you may be turning your mind’s gaze to the summer and thinking about officer training. You may also be considering providing your sabbatical officers with weeks of intense and condensed training. However, I would caution against this and highlight the potential negative impact for leadership development, learning, self-awareness, and putting learning into practice.

Officer training can be a great learning experience, but does it actually work? How much do officers retain, practice and reflect on their learning?

Don’t get me wrong, being an officer is a steep learning curve and we have to take the development of our officers incredibly seriously. However, one of the key issues with intensive training is that it can overwhelm participants and lead to cognitive overload. This can make it difficult for participants to process and retain information, limiting their ability to put learning into practice. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run “Fibchester” in summer training and then during the year I’ve despaired that officers do not apply their learning from those scenario-based learning exercises. But can we blame them? I don’t think so. Research has shown that blended learning, for example; seminars with micro-learning where information is presented in smaller, more manageable chunks over a longer period of time, can lead to better retention and application of knowledge.

I remember being an officer and having an incredible in-house training programme, it bonded my team and set the tone for the year - but I wonder how much of the learning we retained, let alone were able to practice in our terms. Then, as a staff member, I would try to emulate this approach with officer teams that I supported - and very often, there was lots of content that just didn’t stick and led to issues down the road.

Intensive training may not allow for enough time for reflection and self-awareness, which are crucial components of leadership development. Without opportunities to reflect on their experiences and the learning they have gained, participants may struggle to understand how to apply what they have learned in practice.

There is also the issue of burnout, one that we are talking about a lot at the moment. Intense training programmes can be physically and emotionally demanding, and may leave participants feeling drained and demotivated. This can have a negative impact on their ability to lead and be effective in their roles, as well as their overall wellbeing.

Providing sabbatical officers with high-quality, varied learning experiences is essential for their development and success. However, it's important to consider the downsides of intensive training programmes, and to explore alternative approaches that may be more effective in supporting their learning and growth.

If you're looking to support your sabbatical officers in their development, it's worth considering a more balanced approach to learning and development, incorporating intensive as well as micro and spaced learning, opportunities for reflection and self-awareness, and strategies to prevent burnout. 

While it's important to balance the different types of sabbatical officer learning, it's also crucial to ensure that any learning programme is tailored to the needs of officers. So, information and content should be delivered at a time to suit them. We also need to give them space to grow, learn, reflect and put learning in practice. 

It's worth considering the impact that the learning environment can have on officer development. Creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment can be highly beneficial for learning and growth, as well as for fostering a sense of community, belonging and peer-to-peer learning. By creating an environment where officers feel valued, respected, and supported, you can help them to thrive and reach their full potential.

Room to Grow

If you’re coordinating officer induction, you play a critical role in developing and supporting your leaders. Your officers are the driving force behind positive change on your campuses, and investing in their growth and development is essential to ensuring their success and the success of your organisation as a whole. That's why we're excited to introduce you to our innovative officer growth and development programme: Gromentum.

Gromentum is not your average officer development programme. It's a year-long, online learning portal that's designed to provide your officers with the tools, resources, and support they need to grow, develop, and become influential leaders.

One of the key features of Gromentum is our focus on quality, on-demand content. We understand that officer development can often be a one-size-fits-all approach, with little room for customisation or individualisation. That's why we've created a programme that's not only comprehensive, but you can select the content for your specific needs and the needs of your officers.

You will have access to hours of on-demand learning content that is designed by experts in officer development, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that come with being a sabbatical officer. We cover everything from fundamental campaigning principles to community organising, from effective time management to radical candour and giving feedback within your team.

But Gromentum is more than just content. We also place a strong emphasis on reflective practice and micro-learning. We understand that officers often have demanding schedules and limited time, and traditional officer development programmes can be inflexible and time-consuming. That's why Gromentum is designed to be accessible and flexible, with short, bite-sized learning modules that officers can complete at their own pace.

We also believe in the power of community and peer-to-peer learning. That's why Gromentum includes a range of opportunities for officers to connect with each other, share experiences and knowledge, and build strong, supportive relationships. We believe that by fostering a sense of community and belonging, we can help your officers to feel more supported, more empowered, and more engaged in their roles.

At the heart of Gromentum is our commitment to creating positive change. We believe that every officer has the potential to create positive change in their organisation, their campus, and the wider community. By providing the tools and resources they need to succeed, we can help them to realise that potential and make a real difference.

If you're looking for a cutting-edge, innovative officer development programme that puts quality content, reflective practice, and micro-learning at the forefront, then look no further than Gromentum. Our programme is designed to help your officers grow, develop, and become influential leaders.

When it comes to investing in officer development, one of the key considerations has to be cost. That's why we're proud to offer Gromentum at a competitive price of ￡895 (plus VAT) per ORS (it's cheaper for smaller SUs)

It's important to note that this cost is not per officer, but per organisation. This means that all of your sabbatical officers can benefit from the comprehensive, tailored learning experience that Gromentum provides, without breaking the bank.

At Alkhemy, we recognise that sabbatical officers and ORS may face a range of issues that require timely responses. For instance, we may provide guidance on navigating issues such as sexual harassment on campus, mental health support for students, or what to do when your team is storming and falling out. We will aim to be responsive to community needs.

We strive to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest issues and developments within our network, so that we can provide relevant and timely content that helps sabbatical officers to be effective leaders and make a positive impact on their students' union and campus. Our commitment to providing timely and relevant content is just one of the ways in which we seek to deliver a high-quality officer development experience through Gromentum.

We understand that no two ORS are the same, and that smaller organisations with fewer sabbatical officers may have different needs and constraints. That's why we're also pleased to offer reduced pricing for smaller SUs with less than 3 sabbatical officers.

Enrolling in Gromentum is a smart investment in the growth and development of your officers, and can pay dividends in terms of their effectiveness as leaders, their impact on your members, and their own personal and professional growth.

So why wait? Enrol in Gromentum today and give your officers the tools, resources, and support they need to become influential leaders and agents of positive change in your community.

Take a look at our Gromentum video: