Stef's leadership development programme was developed in association with, and under the auspices of the University of Johannesburg.

Programme developers:

• Stef du Plessis, M.Phil PPL
• Prof Dawie Smith
• Elsa Bester, M.Phil PPL
• Wanda Bierman, M.Phil PPL
• Callie Roos, BD

Underlying Philosophy

To state the blatantly obvious, we subscribe to the notion that business is about people. We believe that personal effectiveness and leadership can be taught. And it is our view that it had better be taught if organizations wish to make the most of their resources. We believe that the leaders’ role is to create a culture within which their people can pursue the strategic objectives of the organization.

To this end the leader must influence their people towards independent behavior, which is best accomplished through mentorship.

But effective mentorship can only take place in an environment where employees see their leaders as worthy role models, and where employees know that they are cared about. Leaders are measured through their behavior – which becomes the showcase for both their competency and their character. We conclude that leadership is not a role that the leader plays in isolation – their behavior as leaders have to be congruent with the rest of their life.

Therefore, the real test of a leader is to have the courage to live a life of significance... to behave in a manner where there is congruency between what they think, what they say, and what they do. In all of their life roles... include how they behave as leaders.

In summary, leaders at all levels need to take responsibility for their own behavior, and they need to develop their capacity to change. They need to become leaders of the self: thus becoming effective role models. Next, they need to learn the art of coaching and mentorship, so that they can influence their employees to function independently in the pursuit of their stated strategic objectives. Finally, they need to create and manage a culture which supports the pursuit of these common goals. In addition, of course, they need to effectively fulfill their management roles of planning, organizing, and controlling.

Approach

Through in-house workshops, courses (contact sessions or via e-learning) and coaching programmes, Stef du Plessis helps leaders at all levels to develop their skills and competencies both in terms of personal leadership (leading the self, towards becoming a trustworthy role model) and professional leadership (leading others in the pursuit of common goals).

This is accomplished by teaching leadership philosophies and skills that will enable participants to:

• Become leaders of the self by taking responsibility for their own behavior and developing their personal capacity to change, thus gaining credibility as role models.
• Understand the fundamental dynamics of human behaviour, and some of the key drives to human motivation, so that they can develop compassion and demonstrate a true sense of caring for their people at the deepest level.
• Influence their people through coaching and mentorship.
• Understand and manage organizational culture.
• Management skills

Typical Course Content

As suggested above, the starting place for professional leadership development lies in personal leadership development. Click here for more information.

Outlined below is a broad overview of our professional leadership development modules.

Module 1: The Legacy of Leadership

1. The concept of professional leadership
2. The difference between managing and leading
3. The levels of leadership
4. Leadership models and theories
5. The vital ingredients for developing leadership
6. A paradigm for breakthrough leadership

Module 2: Strategic Alignment

1. Pulling in the same direction
2. Managing with goals and objectives
3. Coaching of basic management skills
4. How to translate organisational goals into obtainable action plans
5. Targets and goals
6. Objectives and performance improvement
7. When planning is likely to be effective
8. Management approach to driving strong ethics

Module 3: Motivation and Empowerment

1. The concept of motivation
2. Assumptions about human nature and motivation
3. Theories of motivation
4. What happens when needs are not satisfied
5. Characteristics of a motivated leader
6. General rule for motivation
7. Motivation through positive and constructive feedback
8. Corrective feedback
9. Other ways to motivate people
10. What is empowerment?
11. Recent trends in organisations
12. Characteristics of high performing, empowering leaders
13. Empowerment and the four levels of leadership
14. Barriers to empowerment

Module 4: Effective Communication Skills

1. An introduction to effective communication
2. Communication patters
3. The value of feedback and self-disclosure in communication
4. Barriers to effective communication
5. Effective listening
6. Non-verbal communication and body language
7. Assertiveness
8. Guidelines for improving your general communication style

Module 5: Values and Diversity

1. Managing by values
2. Corporate governance defined
3. Organisational alignment and value cantered leadership
4. Business ethics defined
5. Managing by values: Why shared values?
6. The management by values process
7. Character based leadership
8. Diversity
9. Cultural differences

Module 6: Coaching and Mentoring

1. Self-transcendence as the highest form of self fulfillment
2. Trustworthiness as foundation for building relationships
3. Mentoring and Coaching: what’s the difference?
4. Six dimensions of mentoring
5. Guidelines for mentoring
6. Your primary role as coach
7. Coaching that builds winning traditions
8. Challenge without provoking

Module 7: Team Leadership

1. Introduction to team work
2. Team learning
3. Self-managed teams
4. Team leadership
5. Team building
6. Dealing with conflict in teams

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