New Learning: Especially in stressful times in demand
New Learning: In stressful times increasingly in demand
December 15, 2023 – Even when there is "fire" in all corners of an organization, a targeted management development is possible – provided one is willing to explore new paths. This was demonstrated by a project that IFIDZ conducted for a federal authority.
Nowadays, one has the impression that change no longer stops - no, the pace of change seems to be accelerating further and further. It's no wonder that not only companies feel compelled to adjust their learning and leadership methods more and more to the changed conditions. The same applies to public administration institutions at both the national and regional and local levels.
Exploring and paving new paths of learning
This was also necessary in a recently completed project of IFIDZ for a federal authority in Berlin. It was crucial to explore and pave new paths of learning, as their leaders are currently under enormous time and action pressure.
Originally, the management development program envisioned two half-day hybrid workshops or seminars on the topic of team and self-leadership. But as often happens, life made its own plans. The participants, who support the federal government in making and implementing its decisions with their teams, signaled: In the current situation, where politically and socially there is "fire" in so many corners, we cannot withdraw for two half days from the "daily business". Learning must instead be as flexible and goal-oriented as our everyday actions.
Current problems are discussed and solved in live sessions
So the original plans were thrown overboard, and instead, four 90-minute live sessions were held. In these, each participant could bring in their individual current challenges and issues. These were then analyzed by me, as an external leadership expert, and the also participating colleagues, who know the culture of the authority and its internal constraints inside out. Afterwards, we jointly developed tailored solutions and implementation tools.
Pain points are addressed in self-study and coaching
In addition to these interactive sessions, there was a presentation on the most important areas of action and tasks in team, employee, and self-leadership as a leader. This input was supplemented by specialist articles of mine on these topics and "learning nuggets" for self-study. These highlighted the focal topics and "pain points" and were enriched with questions for self-reflection and checklists.
Participants were also offered a concluding coaching session with me. This was intended to ensure that all leaders could implement what they had learned in practice.
The goal of New Learning: Learning despite great time and action pressure
This approach was a mega success! And the most important thing: it was feasible – even for the leaders whose schedules left them little room to breathe. In times when both leaders and their teams are under enormous time and action pressure, this individualized, flexible learning turned out to be the key to success.
Leadership skills are particularly in demand in stressful times
During the pre-Christmas period, which is a time,
when (not only in authorities) often many tasks need to be completed under time pressure and
at the same time, the groundwork for the coming year must be laid,
these learning methods not only strengthened the skills of each individual; the project also showed that personal growth and the development of leadership skills is possible even under stressful conditions – provided one is open to new forms and formats of learning.
Author: Barbara Liebermeister
About the Author:
Barbara Liebermeister is the founder and director of the Institute for Leadership Culture in the Digital Age (IFIDZ) – and a thought leader when it comes to modern leadership. With the concept she developed, Alpha Intelligence®, she summarizes the critical intelligences of successful leaders in the digital transformation: human, effective, and future-proof.
As a long-time manager, consultant, and coach, she brings practical experience and supports companies in rethinking their leadership culture – scientifically based, individually tailored, and with a clear focus on what truly works. Whether as an author of several specialist books, a speaker on stages, or a lecturer at renowned universities such as RWTH Aachen, Kempten University, and many more – Barbara combines profound knowledge with a great deal of personality.
She is a mentor at Hessian universities, was nominated for the #digitalfemaleleader Award, and received the Wolfgang Heilmann Prize for the digital leadership analysis tool LEADT with her team. Her drive: to make leadership more human and at the same time more future-proof.
About the author Barbara Liebermeister
Barbara Liebermeister is the founder and director of IFIDZ — the Institute for Leadership Culture in the Digital Age. As a management consultant, coach, and keynote speaker, she combines business experience with scientific depth and coined the concept of Alpha Intelligence®, which captures the key capabilities modern leaders need. With many years of leadership experience and as a coach for top decision-makers, she has supported organizations of all sizes for more than two decades on their path toward contemporary leadership — practical, strategic, and effective. Insights from her work have informed several books on self-leadership, networking, and leadership in the digital world. Barbara Liebermeister teaches at RWTH Aachen University, Kempten University of Applied Sciences, and other institutions, and also mentors students at universities in Hesse. She studied economics, holds a master’s degree in neuroscience, and has completed training as a business, management, and sports mental coach. Recognized work: For her pioneering work, she was nominated for the #digitalfemaleleader Award in 2017. In 2018, LEADT, the analysis tool developed by her institute to measure digital leadership maturity, received the renowned Wolfgang Heilmann Award at Learntec.
