Managing in Turbulent Times

Financial constraints … complex change … restructuring – it’s a familiar story in local government. VOX helped a large group of managers prepare for testing times by sharpening communication skills on which so much would depend.

Challenge

An English county council with around 17,000 staff and a budget approaching £1 billion was experiencing a financial squeeze that necessitated a restructuring of its services and staff. There was widespread consternation among the workforce as they saw old certainties fading and job security slipping away. A large group of senior managers faced the prospect of leading the organisation through a long period of complex change in an often gloomy and occasionally febrile atmosphere.

The council was keen to bolster its managers’ capacity to handle this challenge. Managers had to be able to motivate their staff despite the circumstances and thereby safeguard service delivery. They also had to be able to deal effectively with performance issues and to prepare staff for a different style of local government.

Solution

VOX Coaching was engaged to contribute to the council’s leadership and management development programme. The task was to run a day-long masterclass for 80 managers at the sharp end of the change process. Using specially-designed scenarios that were resonant for the participants, VOX explored a range of the challenges they would encounter in the coming months. These included:

Encouraging a team that has become demotivated
Dealing robustly but fairly with lapses in performance
Managing active and passive resistance to change
Having difficult conversations that end productively
Gaining buy-in to new ways of working
Enabling staff to embrace the future rather than dwell on the past

The masterclass was a chance for managers to discover communication techniques that would strengthen their arm in a variety of situations. These techniques were grounded in established theory; they were also immensely practical and capable of immediate application. Importantly, the masterclass was energetic and fun– a world away from the dull plod through PowerPoint that constitutes some training.

Results

There’s no way of knowing for sure what difference the masterclass made in the long term. However, the feedback showed that the participants were glad to have taken this time out for an honest and engaging exploration of topics that were of pressing concern to them, and to acquire or sharpen skills that would stand them in good stead during a difficult period. They said they felt more confident and upbeat about the future.

It was also apparent that a useful by-product of the masterclass was a stronger bond between those who attended. There was greater unity of purpose and increased collective resolve.

What our clients say

I have been pleased to work with VOX Coaching since 2007 … Pete Bailie and his colleagues work very professionally and have engaged wholeheartedly in meeting our needs and designing material to our briefs.

Researcher Development Officer

[The] interpretation of the brief, tailoring of content and varied delivery made for a productive and enjoyable event … I wouldn’t hesitate to use Pete or VOX again.

Director for Careers and Employability

… an inspiring coach who makes an enduring difference to the way people communicate, lead and manage.

Communications and Marketing Director

Participants find the sessions great fun, and at the same time are amazed at how blind they might have been to their own and others’ behaviours, be it in a meeting, or relationships with junior or senior colleagues.

Assistant Director, Researchers and Research Culture

On the day of the interview I was barely nervous (which is very unusual for me), very confident and performed very well…in fact I would say ended up enjoying it. They have awarded me a fellowship, so it must have worked!

One Health Policy Lead and Statistics Adviser Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

I had a fantastic experience with VOX Coaching … in preparation for interviews for large grants from research councils. In simple words, without [their] help, it would have been very challenging to perform well at the interview.

EPSRC Research Fellow & Professor of Coatings and Surface Engineering University of Nottingham

I attended a one-day group session … in preparation for a funding interview. Pete has a great understanding of the academic funding landscape, which helped demystify the process for me and my fellow attendees. I would highly recommend.

Lecturer in flight dynamics and control University of Bristol

Transformational, inspiring and fun … Liberating that inner voice, being able to ‘read’ body language and vary styles of communication are the secrets this course unlocked for me.

Marketing Officer UWE

… the single best presentation & communication skills trainer I have ever worked with. Deeply knowledgeable, personable, adaptable, and infectiously enthusiastic about his subject.

Associate Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship University of Bristol

Six months after my last coaching session with Pete I am still applying what I learnt. Pete is a creative coach with an inspiring array of tools and experience to call upon when coaching clients. Our sessions were focussed, creative and challenging, helping me to target those areas of my professional life I want to develop further.

Head of Corporate Programme Office NHS

Other case studies

Delivering Major Change

When a university had to move thousands of its staff members to a new pay-grade structure, there was a pressing need for skilful and sensitive communication. VOX helped managers across the institution rise to the challenge.

Gearing Up for a New Reality

When a small company becomes part of a big one, it can be all change for the staff. VOX helped a firm in the creative industries adapt to new circumstances by boosting their confidence and honing their communication skills.

Influencing Up

Top politicians benefit from the input of impartial advisers. But what if the advisers have trouble connecting with more senior people? VOX helped a group of such individuals develop communication skills that matched their intellectual prowess.

Inspiring Excellence in Teams

A firm operating in 40 locations had to be sure that all its senior players were able to articulate a compelling vision and lead people effectively. VOX worked with them to strengthen the skills they needed to inspire their teams.

Pitch Perfect

An international company needed its IT specialists to be able to pitch business proposals to clients with greater success. VOX’s role was to equip them with practical techniques for engaging audiences – including difficult and critical ones.

Turning to a Trusted Adviser

A senior academic had a range of important communication challenges over the years, including bidding for multimillion-pound grants, giving high-profile media interviews and speaking at international gatherings. VOX supported them at every turn.

Winning Through

How can you do yourself justice when you’re being interviewed for your own job? This was the question facing people in a local authority service area that was undergoing reorganisation. VOX helped them find answers and grow in confidence.