INTRODUCTION

Professional engineers are credited with strong problem solving skills and analytical abilities.  Often they are promoted to leadership positions because they are good in doing their job.  There is an expectation that brilliance in technical disciplines will translate to leadership excellence overnight.  It is however not the same and new leaders soon find out that they need different skills and knowledge to address managerial challenges to lead, inspire and motivate people to perform at their best.

The Strategic Thinking and Leadership for Engineers training course has been specifically developed to build on skills and knowledge of professional engineers to expand and develop strong leadership and strategic thinking capabilities within a complex and fast changing industry. With a balanced mix between strategic analysis, leadership and management, it will help participants expand their mindset and acquire specific practical leadership skills.

Participants on the Strategic Thinking and Leadership for Engineers training course will develop the following competencies:

• Personal leadership and organizing
• Critical thinking, strategic analysis and management decision making
• Stakeholder management and influence
• Setting direction and formulating goals
• Option analysis
• Implementation planning
• Change management
• Aligning and motivating people
• Team leadership
• Active listening
• Negotiation
• Persuasive communication

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The Strategic Thinking and Leadership for Engineers training course will benefit professional engineers and new managers who are interested in expanding their strategic thinking and strive to become truly influential leaders.

The Strategic Thinking and Leadership for Engineers training programme will equally appeal to employees in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

This training course aims to expand participants’ knowledge of modern strategic analysis and decision making, develop hands-on leadership skills and provide a productive environment to practice business decision making, communication and influence techniques for successful strategy implementation. The training course is designed to provide a solid foundation in key leadership competencies and to give the attendees the opportunity for a truly transformational leadership experience.

As a result of attending the Strategic Thinking and Leadership for Engineers training course, the participants will be able to:

• Appreciate the importance of leadership and strategic thinking in complex business environment
• Recognise the difference between management and leadership
• Assess and apply a range of leadership theories
• Apply a structured framework for strategic analysis and implementation
• Understand and apply key tools and techniques used in strategic management
• Identify and assess strategic options
• Understand the principles of effective implementation of strategy
• Effectively manage stakeholders and deal with organizational change
• Recognise the importance of leadership mindset and personal leadership
• Enhance the leadership skills including: setting direction, aligning people, motivating and inspiring
• Understand the role of the leader in building an effective team
• Develop communication and human interaction skills to effectively influence and empower people
• Appreciate the differences in leadership and communication styles
• Recognise and mitigate irrational influences on human behaviour
• Improve group decision processes
• Practice a tried and tested approach for influential business communication

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

This  training course is highly interactive and practical. Participants learn through a range of teaching and personal development methods including presentations, tutorials, real life case studies, worked examples, short team exercises and video presentations. Active participation and involvement is encouraged throughout the training programme to promote the sharing of ideas and expertise within the group.

This interactive training course includes the following training methodologies as a percentage of the total tuition hours:

• 30% Lectures, Concepts, Role Play
• 20% Workshops & Work Presentations, Techniques
• 20% Based on Case Studies & Practical Exercises
• 10% Videos, Software & General Discussions
• 20% Application
• Pre and Post Test

PROGRAMME SUMMARY

This hands-on Strategic Thinking and Leadership for Engineers training course is structured to balance theoretical and practical considerations from organisational behaviour, strategic management, behavioural economics and social psychology to provide participants with strategic thinking capabilities and leadership skills.

With multiple short case studies, exercises and facilitated discussions of real life experiences, this training course aims to share a wealth of practical tools and methodologies developed through years of management and consulting experience.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Day 1 -

Introduction to Leadership

• The role of strategic thinking and leadership in complex business environment
• What do we mean by leadership in the 21^stcentury
• Managing vs leading
• Leadership theory and practical leadership competencies for engineers
• Fundamentals of human decision making and influence

 Strategic Thinking for Engineers

• The content of strategy
• A framework for strategic analysis
• The role of organisational context in strategic leadership
• Strategic management process
• Strategic objectives, vision and mission

Day 2 -

Fundamentals of Strategic Analysis

• Understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the business and industry
• Stakeholder management
• Strategic analysis tools and techniques 

Crafting and Evaluating Strategies through Critical Thinking

• Formulating and considering alternative solutions
• Rational choice, decisions under certainty, risk and uncertainty
• Contemporary concepts in risk management
• Case study application

Day 3 -

Linking Strategy and Execution

• Drawing warranted conclusions and making justified recommendations
• Implementation planning and change management considerations
• Barriers to change and techniques to overcome them 

Leading Change through Personal Influence

• Leadership and authority, responsibility, power
• Models of personality and leadership
• Emotional intelligence and leadership
• Understanding and influencing individual perceptions, attitudes and behaviours
• Personal leadership for engineers
• Motivation and performance management
• Developing trust

Day 4 -

Leading Groups and Teams

• Team development model
• High performing team
• Establishing effective team processes
• Leading the search for effective solutions: minimise bias, maximise buy-in

Leadership and Value Generation through Effective Communication

• Fundamentals of effective communication
• Communication barriers
• Effective communication through recognition of the interpersonal interaction styles
• Developing active listening skills
• Strategic thinking and leadership in negotiations and conflict resolution
• Case study application

Day 5

Influence and Leadership

• Factors that influence people and decisions
• AIM-FOCUS method of persuasive business communication

Practical applications: problem solving and influential communication

Certificates

A Certificate of Completion will be issued to those who attend & successfully complete the programme.

Schedule

  08:30 – 10:15 First Session

 10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break

10:30 – 12:15 Second Session

 12:15 – 12:30 Coffee Break

12:30 – 14:00 Third Session

 14:00 – 15:00 Lunch

Fees

 The Fee for the seminar, including instruction materials, documentation, lunch, coffee/tea breaks & snack is: