Our Approach
At Bradford University School of Management we have an unusual but extremely effective approach to Executive Education. We call it Listen, Learn, Deliver and Change.
We listen
In today's times providers frequently jump for solutions without taking the time to listen to the client.
At Bradford we never watch the clock. We listen to our potential clients and strive to understand not simply the challenges or opportunities they face, but the culture, history and heritage of their organizations.
We learn
Quite often clients will have a clear idea about their competence gaps and requirements, perhaps as a result of an internal needs analysis. When such a process has not been followed, we can assist clients through our more formal pathways:
The Bradford Consultancy Approach: a simple but highly effective method of identifying skills and needs gaps using our experienced facilitators to conduct interviews with a representative sample of the learning target groups and other key stakeholders.
The Bradford Formal Diagnostic Approach: using proven, evidence based diagnostic tools including 360 degree analysis to investigate management competencies and areas for potential improvement.
We deliver
Once we have identified our client needs, we set about designing, agreeing and implementing the most effective solutions.
We are firm believers in face-to-face learning. Experience has taught us that in many cases, busy, well-qualified managers tend not to engage with remote learning. Instead they prefer the discursive and networking opportunities afforded by a personal approach. The virtual world of executive education looks great on paper and can appear to be cost-effective, but the reality is frequently different.
Our emphasis is on making every session:
Interactive - participation is key to our teaching style,
with the emphasis placed squarely on involvement and inclusivity.
Relevant - we work closely with our clients to ensure relevance
in style, substance and issue.
Engaging - we believe that learning should be enjoyable. Our
aim is always to ensure that the activity, not what is waiting back in the office,
is at the top of your mind!
Inspirational - we want to encourage change and new ways of
managing. Our aim is always to stretch our delegates, to get them to think about
how they can be a catalyst for positive organizational as well as personal change.
You change
There is always a danger that Executive Education and Development can be seen as a box ticking exercise. Here we work closely with our clients to ensure real application of learning directly back into the workplace.
- All courses are developed in partnership with our clients working with specially selected mentors.
- We stress that attendance is a means to an end not an end in itself.
- We brief line managers of delegates, advising them as to how they can support the delegates.
- Every course concludes with a personally prepared action plan.
We can complement this with a choice of three additional services:
The Bradford Application: experienced facilitators work with our clients on an ongoing basis focusing on guidance as to how to integrate the learning into the work environment; formal progress reviews; development of the Bradford Application Manual, demonstrating applied best practice integration of programme content.
Leadership in Action: working in small groups, delegates solve specific problems supported by formal group sessions, one-to-one coaching and peer observation. We encourage delegates to start learning from each other.
Action Learning: one of the most effective ways in which managers can learn and impact upon their organization. We help delegates to work together, un-picking the issues that are close to them and where they have struggled to identify the best courses of action.
Get in touch and find out what we can do for you:
execed@bradford.ac.uk