CBLI is running an eight month highly practical, interactive and demand driven leadership program for second-tier managers. The programme aims to create a cadre of next generation leaders who are value driven, have the skills and tools to ‘think out of the box’, engage others effectively – creating trust and honest sense of urgency and agency, and developing a culture of focus and solution. These leaders are expected to enhance the capacity, credibility and sustain the social transformative agenda of social justice and human rights organizations within the East Africa region.
Specifically the program aims to:
- Promote values driven leadership;
- Impact leadership skills and tools;
- Promote ability to self manage and build effective relationships
- Provide equal opportunities for top leadership for the middle managers.
The leadership program comprises of three training modules (module I focusing on the self transformation, module II focusing on the organizational transformation and module III focusing on the social transformation) of five days each, at least six mentorship and coaching sessions with exemplary leaders through a leadership project in your organization and peer learning groups for primary support within organizations or between geographically close organizations.
Currently we are running a leadership program for four Ugandan partner organizations starting from December 2018 and this will run till July 2019. Fifteen second-tier leaders are participating in this program.
Some of the key insights and changes experienced as shared by the participants in the leadership program include:‘
‘I learnt about patience. I was given feedback at work and thought it as biased but receiving it from a stranger was an eye opener. I realized I should be patient and more observant. I now manage my emotions and reactions and I have become calmer and I do not get agitated over issues especially deadlines. Managing time: I noticed this was a big deal for me and I got feedback from peers on how I have improved on this – they even wanted more information on how I manage time. The coordinator for VAW is on unpaid leave and I was told to act and I have been given the whole package which comes with the position – it has never happened to me before.’ Jean
‘My planning and prioritization has greatly improved. My to-do list used to be lengthy and now I have a weekly to-do list – it is an agenda that I am driving within my organization. I prepare a weekly to do list every Monday and check on progress every week. I introduced this after the training. Now it is easy to track the progress on the t- do list. I also enhanced my self awareness and appreciate myself more so I am able to deal with others more appropriately, for instance being empathetic as opposed to negative. I am still trying to manage my email – sometimes I slide back into the old habit of checking the email in morning.’ Ida
‘ It was a life changing opportunity: In the staff retreat I was asked to share what people do not know about me – I shared that I am undergoing a life changing process to become a better person – I am trying to walk the talk – I used to talk a lot in meetings but now I have learnt to manage myself – self control and less talking – holding it. The last session on feedback keeps revolving in my mind – I control myself not to speak too much. The feedback was good. I am trying to be focused at work and colleagues are trying to see the unique difference in me – I am more patient, able to speak in a professional way. My colleague noticed that I am becoming more humble and calm. Learning is a journey and I am trying to unlearn, learn and re-learn. Peeling off the old skin and putting on a new one.’ David
Target participants in this leadership program are staff that hold supervisory or management positions but are not part of senior management teams or early career/ ‘next generation’ professionals or programme/project staff that have shown great potential for future leadership positions.
