Resilience Leadership in Recessionary Times

03/12/2008

Alium Partners and Catfish Solutions Group have recently hosted several workshops at Ashridge Management College, entitled “Resilient Leadership in Recessionary Times”. Each workshop was attended by over twenty senior interim professionals who were encouraged to reflect upon their former experienc

Alium Partners and Catfish Solutions Group have recently run several workshops at Ashridge Management College, entitled “Resilient Leadership in Recessionary Times”. Each workshop was attended by over twenty senior interim professionals who were encouraged to reflect upon their former experiences of senior roles in a downturn and consider their relevance to present market conditions.

Joined by guest speakers, Bruno Dalbiez of Ashridge Consulting and Elizabeth May of YouGov, the day presented a fascinating blend of the rigour of academic theory on leadership, combined with a practical perspective on consumer confidence in the current marketplace. Bruno opened by challenging our thinking around the differences between “Leading Transformation” and ”Managing and Improving the Status Quo”. He provided a theoretical base which led into a very practical workshop in which participants were actively asked to recount their own experiences of the early 1990’s. There was a vast and deep range of skills and experiences in the groups that covered both different sectors as well as skill-sets. It was clear that whilst many agreed that this downturn was potentially far deeper than the 1990’s, the majority of participants felt that both their permanent and interim careers had equipped them well to be able to offer organisations invaluable skills and expertise at such a critical time.

There was general consensus that the market place provided numerous opportunities for the brave and smart businesses out there, but that many were going to be ill-prepared for the challenges currently presented. For many senior leaders in permanent roles, this will be the first time that they have encountered such conditions. The risks to business survival are great and these workshops generated extensive insights into the dos and don’ts of managing in challenging times.

For all who attended there was opportunity to shape and share their own personal offering to the marketplace and all agreed that this was an invaluable exercise.

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