Creative Strategic IT Leadership

This day introduces the foundations of creative leadership and the science of creativity. Participants examine tools to unlock creativity and challenge traditional problem-solving approaches. The topics covered will include:  

• The Art and Science of Creative Leadership and Key Principles
• Creative Leadership Reality Assessment and Unlocking Creativity
• Bridging Leadership and Management for Fostering a Creative Environment.
• Decoding Our Brain's Creativity: Our Brain Function
• Myths of Creativity and challenge the traditional Limitations of the Rational.
• Embracing Divergence and Divergent Approaches to Problem-solving and Letting Go of Logic
• Thinking Modes: Convergent and Divergent Modes: The Einstein Model

This day focuses on navigating barriers to creativity and fostering innovation. Participants explore concepts such as lifecycle models and balanced creative thinking strategies. The topics covered will include:

• Navigating the Sigmoid Curve and - Lifecycle Model
• Continuous Improvement and Breakthrough Step Change Concept.
• Self-reflection and Alignment and Personal Goal Alignment/
• Innovation and Adaption and Personal Preferences for Creating Meaning
• Using the Nudge Principle and Understanding Attitudes to Risk.
• Balancing Brainpower: Left- and Right-brain Thinking, encouraging a holistic approach to creative problem-solving.
• Modern Case Studies of Creativity: Uber, Apple and Instagram.

This day emphasises vision creation and diverse thinking techniques. Participants learn models and tools to craft strategic visions and enhance organisational culture for innovation. The topics covered will include:  

• Diverse Thinking for Innovative Solutions – an Introduction
• The Six Thinking Hats methodology for Diverse Thinking Styles,
• Understanding and Communication JoHari's Window
• The Business Planning Process & Creating a Vision: Selling your Ideas.
• Team Dynamics and Culture Participants and Harnessing the Power of the Team
• Organisational Culture on Innovation: Implementing Change
• Letting Go of the Ego and Working with Different Creative Preferences.

This day develops effective ways to present and promote creative ideas. Participants explore communication models and techniques that inspire change and build trust. The topics covered will include:  

• The Creative Process Unveiled and The 7 Step Creative Process,
• Presenting Ideas with Minto Model: A Roadmap from Inspiration to Implementation.
• Effective Communication and Presentation Techniques Models
• Inspiring Change Sessions on Viral Visioning, Authenticity and Trust, and Creativity Tools, Techniques and Strategy.
• Leadership Reimagined: on Letting Go of the Vision and Leading without Directing, challenging conventional leadership paradigms.

This day focuses on removing barriers to creativity and fostering an innovative culture. Participants learn how to lead transformation and motivate others through creative engagement. The topics covered will include:  

• Driving Motivation and Overcoming Barriers: Beyond the Hierarchy of Needs
• Overcoming Organisational Barriers to Creativity and Change.
• Fostering a Culture of Innovation by Nurturing a Learning Environment
• Building Consensus and Engagement Through Personality Profiling and Building a Creative Consensus
• Leading Through Transformation and Engaging Stakeholders Creatively
• Influencing and Motivating: Through Persuasion Science.

This day introduces the challenges of IT leadership and the strategic value of IT services. Participants explore how to communicate IT value, manage existing technology, and plan for future technology adoption. The topics covered will include:  

• Understand the challenges of the IT manager
• How to value IT services
• Communicate IT value to upper management, peers and end-users
• Understand the responsibilities of the IT team leader

Managing Technology

• Understand the Strategy for Managing Existing Technology
• Know when to develop and adopt New Technologies
• Be aware of how to manage assets effectively

This day focuses on influence strategies, negotiation techniques, and strategic decision making. Participants explore how to select effective influence approaches and apply strategic choices to vendor and outsourcing decisions. The topics covered will include:  

• Understand the different types of influential power
• Be aware of the various influence strategies
• Select the most effective influence strategy for the situation
• Understanding negotiations, tactics and techniques
• Use influence effectively to thrive as an IT manager

Strategic Decision Making

• Apply strategic decision making
• Recognizing strategic decisions and initiatives
• Apply strategic decision making to vendor selection
• Understand when to outsource

This day emphasises strategic planning and budgeting for IT success. Participants explore customer profiling, partnership models, and quality management concepts. The topics covered will include:

• Using the mission as an IT driver
• Defining the customer profile
• understanding the partnership model
• Creating a strategic plan
• Planning and budgeting issues

Managing IT Quality

• Understanding the importance of managing by process
• Understand the definitions of quality
• Applying maturity models
• Using process management
• Applying international standards

This day focuses on performance evaluation, team building, delegation, and project management fundamentals. Participants learn how to motivate and manage stakeholders effectively. The topics covered will include:

• Evaluating IT performance and metrics
• Understanding delegation and motivation
• Team building
• Managing the management team and stakeholders

IT Project Management

• The Importance of Project Management
• Defining Project Manager talents and skills
• Understanding the principles of Project Management

This day addresses metrics, best practices, and lessons learned for sustaining strategic IT excellence. Participants explore measurement strategies and integrating metrics into planning. The topics covered will include:

• Developing a measurement strategy
• Creating a “Best Practices” based organization
• Deploy metrics
• Managing by facts and results
• Integrate metrics into the strategic plan

Common Pitfalls and Lessons Learned

• Balancing technical and corporate requirements
• Balancing tactical and strategic decisions
• Evaluating new and existing technologies
• Balancing management styles and culture