Open Water

Open Water is an online, consortia-based development programme for emerging leaders in dynamic organisations, helping them to take the next step. Working closely with the team at Heresy Consulting, I am delighted to make this unique and proven course available for emerging leaders in schools and MATs.

As Multi-Academy Trusts grow and become more dynamic and complex, they need to develop leadership capability across both the executive leadership team and into upcoming talent. To be sustainable they must provide opportunities for a new generation of leaders to step up, shape and share responsibility for the future.

Open Water is a programme that develops these leaders.

Open Water is designed to help great individual performers within MATs make the often challenging transition to executive leadership. Through the programme, they will come to understand themselves, their teams and their organisations better, and will build the personal development plan they need to contribute as leaders over the medium to long term. The programme provides a space in which emerging leaders can wrestle with the challenges they will face in their next roles, and in which they can develop the essential capacity for collaboration. It will ensure that they are ready to step up and take responsibility for supporting their teams and wider organisations through the next stage of growth and development.

To join the waiting list for the next wave, or to find out more, please drop me a line.

Programme outcomes

Open Water helps great performers within schools and MATs make the often challenging transition to leadership. 

It helps emerging leaders look ‘below the surface’ and better understand what is really happening for themselves and their organisations.

The programme provides a well-supported space in which to reflect individually and as a group on the challenges of leadership and then to build a practical and personalised development plan to face those challenges. 

Membership of the programme is carefully curated to ensure the best possible learning experience for all participants.

Programme outline

• Beginnings - 4 hrs - introducing the programme and each other. Exploring a psychodynamic model of leadership.

• Self - 8 hrs - developing self-awareness as a foundation for leadership. Exploring strengths, weaknesses, motivations and aspirations.

• Teams - 8 hrs - considering what is "beneath the surface" in our relationships. Exploring why teams fail and how to help them succeed.

• Organisations - 8 hrs - understanding organisational culture. Exploring how to extend influence across an organisation.

• Reflections - 4 hrs - reflecting on your learning. Exploring some practical next steps to apply learning and continue developing.

Participants will complete self-directed work assignments between each module, providing opportunities to test learning. A range of carefully curated materials will provoke new perspectives and ideas, and provide a focus for discussion.

How will we work on this programme? - Participants will work in peer coaching groups of three to four, with a maximum of 8 participants in total. Each group will  be supported by a facilitator to explore ideas and share learning.

What will the work look like? - Participants will be asked to complete a self-directed work assignment between each module, providing practical insights and opportunities to test and explore learning.  Between each module there will be practical assignments to capture and consolidate your learning.

How will the programme be delivered? - Curated material will be hosted on the Heresy Consulting online learning platform to provoke new perspectives and support on-going self-discovery. Sessions will be held online via Zoom. Login details will be provided to participants, as well as supporting materials, slides, and pre-reading for every session.

What does the programme cost? - TBC, but the cost is likely to be around £4,500