Leadership Development New Zealand
P O Box 26044, Epsom, AUCKLAND 1344Phone : (09) 83666 08
Terry Horne, General Manager - Sealord.
"Our team leaders have really coalesced as a leadership group"
Ian Hunter, Managing Director - Canterbury Leather
Click here to view more client stories
"Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out"
- Stephen Covey
A boost in confidence and skills that help with personal life as well as work were two of the gains from a Sealord leadership development course, say graduates Nicola Webb and Miriama Wickliffe.
Nicola (Ngati Hine-Nga Puhi) and Miriama (Te Arawa-Ngati Kahungunu kiWairoa) both work at Sealord's Vickerman Street processing site and were selected for the programme, run by Shaaron Adams of Leadership Development, which is aimed at team leaders and people with leadership potential.
It begins with two days at Whenua Iti Outdoor Centre, with a focus on team building and communication, and is followed by four months of work towards a National Certificate in Business (First Line Management)
Nicola was on the Vickerman Street pilot programme, run in 2008, and described Whenua lti as very cool. "They'd mixed up all the areas, so you were not with people you usually worked with, the activities were good and there was lots of team building."
Increased confidence, along with skills in goal setting, time management and dealing with stress, were major gains from the course, Nicola says, and the realisation that you can learn from mistakes.
When the factory was restructured in 2009 she was promoted from team leader to production leader for the squid line in Sealord's wet fish factory and runs the roe line in the hoki season. "Before the course I would not have had the confidence to apply for production leader: I would have doubted my ability to move up and lead. Now I have direction, l'm looking at where I want to be and what I would like to do."
Miriama, who works as general hand in the coated plant, went on the course this year, and has since become a health and safety representative. She found the course had a lot to offer each individual. "I personally found the goal setting, problem solving, coping with stress and decision making very helpful." The course encouraged her to always believe in herself, reinforced that it is not a weakness to ask for help and that some things are meant to be done, or better done, as a team.
She found the skills she learnt could be useful for personal life as well as the work environment. "The course helped to re-open dreams and ambitions I had when I was younger. l worked in tourism for seven years (before joining Sealord) and at some stage will return to that profession - and the skills I've learnt will enhance my work within that field."
Both thanked friends and whanau for their encouragement and support, the trainers, and Sealord management for giving them the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge and providing the extra study time. The customised programme was developed by Sealord in partnership with training providers Leadership Development of NZ and Solutions in Seafood and launched at Sealord Shellfish in 2007.
Sixty staff have been through the Programme over the past couple of years and Terry Horne, General Manager People and Performance, says it has exceeded expectations. "lt reflects our desire too grow and develop people for the future and we'll continue to run it in 2010."
Taken from Mana Magazine February - March 2010