Comments on: G20 - the world’s away day http://www.bloggingonleadership.com/2009/04/07/g20-the-worlds-away-day/ A focus on what leadership is paid to do Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:37:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Marcus cato http://www.bloggingonleadership.com/2009/04/07/g20-the-worlds-away-day/#comment-1301 Marcus cato Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:15:17 +0000 http://www.bloggingonleadership.com/?p=236#comment-1301 I would partially agree with you Steve. My reservation is that when Gordon, Barack and Angela return from the away day like other senior leaders/managers, the initial imapct of the ideas and plans are often not discussed or shared with the implementers. The consistency of implementation is sporadic accross organisations. Unless someone is given the explicit mantle to champion a particular new initiative, efforts fall well short of promises and expectations. This also begs the question, what responsibility do those who do not attend the away day have in making sure what was agreed is implemeneted? Is it explict enough as part of their role to ask the difficult questions to attendees to really understand what was agreed and therefore what needs to happen? Or do they just sit passively and listen for the report back and act on what they are asked to do? Again when the 'away dayers' return, do they pause and think through what messages and actions really need to happen and who should drive it? Or do they just get caught up in the latest crisis or challenge facing the organisation and gently let go of the away day outcome? However in these economic circumstances there is a real need for away days that work and for outcomes not to be lost in translation. I would partially agree with you Steve. My reservation is that when Gordon, Barack and Angela return from the away day like other senior leaders/managers, the initial imapct of the ideas and plans are often not discussed or shared with the implementers. The consistency of implementation is sporadic accross organisations. Unless someone is given the explicit mantle to champion a particular new initiative, efforts fall well short of promises and expectations. This also begs the question, what responsibility do those who do not attend the away day have in making sure what was agreed is implemeneted? Is it explict enough as part of their role to ask the difficult questions to attendees to really understand what was agreed and therefore what needs to happen? Or do they just sit passively and listen for the report back and act on what they are asked to do?

Again when the ‘away dayers’ return, do they pause and think through what messages and actions really need to happen and who should drive it? Or do they just get caught up in the latest crisis or challenge facing the organisation and gently let go of the away day outcome? However in these economic circumstances there is a real need for away days that work and for outcomes not to be lost in translation.

]]> By: Steve Botham http://www.bloggingonleadership.com/2009/04/07/g20-the-worlds-away-day/#comment-1296 Steve Botham Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:48:44 +0000 http://www.bloggingonleadership.com/?p=236#comment-1296 Marcus I like the lateral thinking here - Gordon, Barak and Angela on an away day. The expectation is that so much brain power and influence working together can be powerful enough to change the world. Similarly with a company or departmental away day they are only as good as the expectations we have of them and the disciplined thought and behaviour we invest in them. At their best away days create significant breakthroughs, change cultures, deliver real results - this always links with the effective implementation of these wonderful ideas back in the real world. To take your analogy on Gordon, Barak, Angela etc will deliver high sounding ideas (do they gather round flip charts and use post its?!) but some senior civil servants will be the real people who turn the brain power into action. The ability of the away day participants to pass the baton on to the implementers will be vital. Maybe that's why world poverty has not been tackled effectively! Marcus
I like the lateral thinking here - Gordon, Barak and Angela on an away day. The expectation is that so much brain power and influence working together can be powerful enough to change the world. Similarly with a company or departmental away day they are only as good as the expectations we have of them and the disciplined thought and behaviour we invest in them. At their best away days create significant breakthroughs, change cultures, deliver real results - this always links with the effective implementation of these wonderful ideas back in the real world. To take your analogy on Gordon, Barak, Angela etc will deliver high sounding ideas (do they gather round flip charts and use post its?!) but some senior civil servants will be the real people who turn the brain power into action. The ability of the away day participants to pass the baton on to the implementers will be vital. Maybe that’s why world poverty has not been tackled effectively!

]]>