28th May, 2010
New clients, a team meeting & some horses
The ash cloud may still be causing disruptions here and there but we're glad it didn't affect new clients, Microgaming Software Systems Limited, getting to SuccessfactoryTM. They came over last Thursday, all the way from the Isle of Man, to participate in an Equine Workshop with us.
The Senior team from Microgaming, the online gaming industry's largest and most established software provider, were eager to explore leadership. In particular they wanted to look at authentic leadership and coaching. Graham Wilson worked with the team using Equine Assisted Learning. Using horses for leadership development is a powerful experience that unlocks your personal strengths and develops your leadership, team, and communication skills while increasing your awareness and stimulating your creativity. Graham says, "Using horses makes the experience unique and unlike other experiential activities... the horses provide participants a real-life mirror of thoughts, emotions, and physical behaviours that may not be in their consciousness. This is then used to create powerful changes in leadership behaviour back in the workplace". The Senior team from Microgaming found the experience hugely beneficial, they said, "We enjoyed the unique challenge of the Equine Workshop, and in the process learned a great deal about ourselves, and a little about horses!"
Last week, MoneySupermarket.com's Senior Management Team joined us for a day of hard work and great learning in our venue Inspiration. We've been working closely with MoneySupermarket.com recently in order to provide them with the awesome kind of venue they deserve in order to assist in achieving great things!
This week we had a brilliant team meeting where we all got to catch up on where we're up to this year so far and how great it has been! We relaxed on our lovely bean bags in Inspiration, drank tea, ate cake and came up with some fantastic new offers for our clients (watch this space!).
Graham then dashed off to Samsung where he was invited to present at their European HR Directors conference on the topic of "HR in the future". The team were introduced to New World Thinking concepts which provided the thought provoking catalyst to changes the team have now planned. The ideas the team developed included creating a one-page strategy for the European HR Team to ensure clarity and brand awareness of the value they offer to the business. Ideas around a more collaborative way of working were discussed and a pragmatic move from transactional services to a true business partnering approach. The team were inspired by the possibilities of creating a true learning culture across the European Team. Watch this space as the results soar!!!
Alison has been working with the University of Liverpool this week, delivering training on Influencing and Negotiating skills as part of an ongoing leadership development programme. Kate is on to lots of new, exciting leads. We've got so much work coming in that Kate is pleased to be welcoming Vicki to the sales & marketing team to assist in dealing with all our bookings! Anne is keeping all our finances in check and ensuring everything runs smoothly as we gear up for a really busy period ahead. Martin has gone away on a Cadet Expedition and Teegan is off to Bulgaria on holiday for a week! All is well at Successfactory. In the mean time, we wish all our clients a fantastic bank holiday weekend and look forward to welcoming them all back very soon! We're really looking forward to enjoying more BBQ's on the patio with our clients.