Almost 12 months ago, leading water safety specialists, Nant Limited launched the Elev8 learning experience, an innovative personal and professional development programme for its emerging leaders.
As the first Elev8 cohort, comes to an end, we speak to one of the delegates, Hygiene Supervisor Mark Berry as he shares his experiences of the leadership programme and encourages the next group of Nant employees to step forward for the experience:
What has been your experience of the Elev8 programme so far:
I’m very much enjoying the experience. The key thing I’ve found is it’s not like most leadership courses, it’s less about leadership training and more about self-awareness. Understanding and being able to share your own personal journey and where you want to be at the end of it is fundamental.
Our Elev8 experience leader, Gordon Lord is great. He is very knowledgeable, and his delivery of the course is fantastic.
The real big positive is the opportunity to spend a lot of time with the directors, Carl, Jamie and Richard. They attend each module, demonstrate any interactive sessions first and lead by example. They have an opportunity to see a different side to you and your skill set.
We all have a designated thinking partner- Carl Baker is mine and we have spent a fair amount of time between sessions talking about what I have learnt so far. It’s good that we have regular, open conversations between us, the delegates, and the directors.
What have you learnt so far?
We have learnt about values, leadership style, a better understanding of ourselves and how we can adapt to different situations.
I have been able to use some of the coaching techniques when speaking to my own team. I found the comfort and stretch model useful and I’m utilising some of these techniques when I’m thinking about planning and developing my own team.
What has been your favourite module?
Business strategy. This session was delivered by Carl and Richard. Without giving too much away it’s a deep dive into the values of the company and an opportunity to generate ideas on the business as it stands today. It was interactive and great to know that the directors were taking on board our ideas and discussing ways we could change things.
I also enjoyed the shields and timelines module. This explored how we got to where we are now, mapping out significant life events and then delved into our past. A big life moment for me was the loss of my brother, this really shaped my values.
What would you say to fellow Nant colleagues thinking about applying for the next Elev8 experience?
It’s a great opportunity to learn more about yourself even if you don’t see yourself as a manager or leader.
The thing about the Elev8 experience is it’s not just about Nant. Obviously, the business want you to develop to support you in your role but you will learn life skills that can help you to grow on a daily basis.
It’s also been a good team building opportunity amongst colleagues. We have learnt a lot about each other during the sessions and it’s took us out of our comfort zones.
Led by internationally recognised coach and people developer, Gordon Lord of Get Coaching Ltd, alongside the Nant leadership team, the Elev8 experience explores Nant colleagues’ potential in a range of areas including self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, coaching, leadership and management of people and strategy.
Gordon Lord, who leads the Elev8 experience said:
“Our intention is to create opportunities for a small, selected group of Nant colleagues to learn about leading themselves, leading others and leading a business.
“The growth in the team’s confidence in themselves and in each other alongside their ability and willingness to lead has been tangible.
“It’s been a real privilege to work with this exceptional group of people, alongside the Nant directors. As we enter the final third of the experience, it’s exciting to see how far we have come together.”
Nant managing director, Carl Baker said:
“Elev8 is a fantastic opportunity for colleagues to learn and grow. We believe that our people are our most valuable asset and investing in their personal and professional development is at the heart of our philosophy and long- term business strategy.
“It has been a great experience watching our first cohort immerse themselves in the programme, working with my own coach and mentor, Gordon Lord and begin to put their development into practice.”
