Inside ASI-AP

Because of Colin's US commitments and travel, he was unable to join the rest of the local management team in undertaking the AIM Graduate Certificate of Management course this year. In its place, we found a 5-day residential (live-in) management course for him to undertake, which he is doing this week.

It is the "Looking Glass" course run by the Melbourne Business School down at their Mt Eliza campus. MBS is highly regarded, and as is the Looking Glass program which is licensed from the US.

The focus of the course is for Colin to understand the impact his leadership style has at ASI, and to improve his performance under pressure and his leadership abilities by participating in feedback-intense, action-learning organisational simulations. Colin's leadership style and peer interaction will be assessed and feedback given for improvement.

I feel this is a great course for Colin at his current management level. He sent me this note earlier in the week at the completion of the first day ...

First day is pretty good. 17 people in the course, and 4 staff on hand to work with us. First day was introductions, an exercise in communication, going through the FIRO-B results then introduction to the looking glass company. We had to elect a CEO - I went up for election but didn't get it. Then we split into 2 groups (different divisions) and explained our goals, FIRO-B and strengths/weaknesses to the group. Then we chose positions in the division. I got Director of Manufacturing for Industrial Glass. Got 2 peers, 4 Plant Managers and one MD (who reports to the CEO). I have just spent 2.5 hours reviewing the hundred or so pages of information for tomorrow. Basically these are notes, memos, company and industry information for the role. There are apparently 113 issues with the company - so we cannot hope to solve them all - but I am trying to organise my mind around what is achievable in the day. Also who I have to meet with to get these done.

There are about 4 feedback sessions during the rest of the week along with other stuff - so it is all about doing and feedback.