“It really is a phenomenal programme,” explains Jason. “The tuition and the sessions with Happy are exceptional. Really effective, really making you re-think and challenge the way you work as a manager.
“For me, I think up until recently I thought a good manager was someone who got a lot of things done. Now I think a good manager is someone whose team gets a lot of things done. It is really powerful to step away from making the decision. Instead let people in your team make those decisions.
What changes have you implemented as a result of the programme?
“As a result of the programme, I’m spending more time doing things that I’m passionate about, and letting others do the jobs I wasn’t passionate about.”
One example is somebody interested in project management. “This person is really passionate about it. It shows the difference between someone taking on a responsibility when they’re really passionate about it, versus someone taking on a responsibility when they know it needs to be done and it’s important.
“There’s a huge difference there. The quality of work that she produces, if I’m being honest, I would never be able to do that. [I don’t have the passion] to put that extra 10% in like she does. I know the clients like it. I can see the difference immediately.”
He has also removed the annual performance cycle. Instead, there are regular one-to-ones and quarterly check-ins.
“I think one of the downfalls of these annual cycles are that people make these really ambitious goals. They do them for about three weeks and then everything just kind of slides back to normal for the next 49 weeks.
“Instead we’re making these consistent changes. It makes everyone feel that their ideas are really being listened to, that they’re owning part of resolving these problems and they’re moving forward.”
Creating a great support network of really good contacts
The other people on the programme have also been a great support network. “One of the best things about getting together with people over a long period of time is you get a great connection with them.
“For us, as a group, that were on the cohort, we’ve just become really good contacts now. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been sharing a lot of ideas about successes that we’ve had, and this is nearly three years now since we started. We are still sharing information about what we’ve done, challenges we’ve had and getting input from the 25 people that are still in the WhatsApp group, all senior leaders.”
Find out more about the Level 7 Senior Leadership Programme
Transform your organisation with our Level 7 Senior Leadership programme. It’s designed for CEOs, Directors and Heads of Department who are looking for a hands-on, long-term programme that will support them to create real change.
Learn more about the programme on our free Level 7 taster, a one-hour online session that will give you a flavour of Happy’s training style and whether the programme is right for you. Our next sessions are 12th June and 22nd July.
If you would like to apply for the Level 7 Senior Leadership programme, simply email me on henry@happy.co.uk. I would be delighted to talk to you over Zoom or simply respond to your questions.
