With the aim of promoting leadership development, Queensland’s Logan City Council hosts breakfast forums for its staff every three months. The forums, ‘Leadership Live – The Breakfast Series’, inspire staff to continue to develop their own leadership skills and knowledge. The forums are free to all staff and most sessions have seen more than 300 people in attendance.
Member of the Leadership Live project team, Nigel Brown, said at the forums, guest speakers are invited to present their views on successful and innovative leadership through their own personal experiences.
“The Breakfast Series is providing employees with an opportunity to learn leadership principles in an informal and cost effective forum, which will have a flow on effect across the organisation,” he said. “The format we have developed enables staff from a wide range of areas to hear quality presentations on leadership, which would normally cost each participant hundreds of dollars in registration fess.”
Nigel Brown said Logan CEO Chris Rose is sponsoring the program in recognition of the significant contribution it can have in enhancing leadership knowledge and awareness of staff.
At the first forum in October 2006, renowned speaker Steve Simpson presented information on the concept of unwritten ground rules and how they influence an organisation’s culture. Other speakers have included Leigh Matthews from the Brisbane Lions; Barry Lane, owner of the Springwood and Loganholme Coffee Clubs, who recently received a national award as Franchisee of the Year; and Molly Harriss-Olson, former advisor to the US President on sustainable development.
Nigel Brown said Leigh Matthews shared his stories and experiences as a successful player and coach, and also spoke about the changing face of leadership, and adapting styles to situations and team profiles.
“Some of his stories related directly to his football experience, but at the end of the day, the principles and outcomes were the same for both a football team and a Council team,” Nigel Brown said. “One of the most significant outcomes we have observed through the program is the number of outdoor staff who are attending the forums. This is contributing greatly to the bringing together of inside and outside workforces as ‘one’ organisation.”
For further information contact Greg Tosh, Council’s Working Together – Leadership Team – Leader on (07) 3412 5661.
