Leading Edge: February introduction from John Withers CMgr FIML, Chair of the Board

Welcome to the February edition of Leading Edge.

The Institute is driven by our desire to enrich our management and leadership community and that is the focus of this month’s edition of Leading Edge. I want to give you a quick roundup of some of the ways your Membership supports you in engaging with the management community on a professional, local and global level.

IML ANZ’s Masterclasses are an excellent way to build professional connections and are now a growing pillar of CPD for many managers and leaders. So, with the needs of managers and leaders in mind, we’ve redesigned the way we deliver our Masterclass offerings for 2021. We’ve expanded the depth we cover our most popular topics, and we now offer these as a series. This means that you can master the leadership skills you need at a pace and frequency that suits you, without sacrificing the depth of understanding each Masterclass series provides. Delving deep into critical leadership skills is a great way to unite management and leadership professionals through shared knowledge. You’ll find more information in this newsletter, and I encourage you to check out which series might be relevant to you or to your team.

At IML, we understand that with so much information now available on demand it can be a little overwhelming. That’s why in creating your Member Portal we’ve made sure that when you login, you’ll receive information that is practical to you. Likewise, the resources available via Leadership Direct are exclusive to Members of IML ANZ and feature tools, checklists, guides, and research focussed on managers and leaders’ needs. Our Member Portal is a key way that we enrich the IML ANZ community by empowering you to curate your own development plan for 2021.

Sound management and leadership practise has never been more sought after than it is today. As such, it might be a good time to reassess whether you are eligible to attain the prestigious Chartered Manager designation. Chartered Managers are part of a global community of management experts who represent leadership excellence. During this month, we are offering $100 off the assessment fee when you apply. As a Chartered Manager myself, I know that the accreditation has helped me develop both professionally and as a leader.

The dedication of our members in raising our management and leadership practice in our various professions and broader society continues to inspire me. In return, we hope that we offer you a suite of Membership benefits that you can equally be proud of. We strive to bring together our local community of managers and leaders and inspire them to realise our vision. That’s where Member Advocates play a crucial role. I believe that our Member Advocates best represent what our community stands for. They support and promote our vision by hosting local events, actively sharing our content via social media, and providing much-needed advice on decisions that will affect IML ANZ’s local Member community. If you want to play a more active role in raising the management and leadership standards in your region, please contact our Membership team.

So, let’s continue to create a community that we can be proud of. We can all play a part in enriching our professional, local and global communities by making the most out of your Membership.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Leading Edge: January introduction from John Withers CMgr FIML, Chair of the Board

Welcome to the January edition of Leading Edge and of course into 2021.

For many managers and leaders, this year represents I expect not only challenges, but also hope and a fresh start. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that 2020 thoroughly challenged how we work, lead and live. However I start the year confident, knowing that many of us flourished despite the difficulties. That’s why in the first edition of Leading Edge this year, I’d like to update you on some of the exciting changes and improvements we’re introducing.

As our society’s paradigm of the ideal workplace shifts, IML ANZ continues to move with agility to deliver valuable products, services and resources to our Members. Of course in response to government and health guidelines, all our Member Lounges remain closed. But we understand the importance of keeping Members connected, which is why we will continue to deliver virtual Member Connect events in 2021. These virtual events present opportunities to bring professionals from across Australia and New Zealand closer despite the distance. It remains a vital part of our Membership offering as physical distancing requirements persist in many regions.

In 2021, we’re continuing to help leaders deep-dive into crucial topics that deal directly with the challenges of the time. Expect to see more of our highly successful Virtual Development Days in 2021. Last year, thousands of participants benefited from these sessions at a time when managers needed sound guidance the most. So keep an eye out for your invitation to the next Virtual Development Day.

The events of 2020 had helped leaders to rethink the merit of agility in so many ways. We’ve had to reflect on it too, particularly when it comes to the way we keep our Membership informed, engaged and energised by the latest ideas in leadership. We have decided to change the way we deliver Leadership Matters content. Instead of a quarterly magazine, I’m excited to announce that you will now receive Leadership Matters as a monthly newsletter. In addition, we are looking forward to launching our brand-new podcast in 2021. The popularity of podcasts has skyrocketed as it has become a pragmatic way to take in knowledge, information and new ideas. Our goal is to provide you with the leadership thinking you need, in a format that best suits our modern lifestyles.

I know some of you may miss the magazine’s print version, while others may welcome the environmental benefits of the new approach. On weighing the benefits of a more frequent and timely newsletter and podcast, we decided that if 2021 is about nothing else, it’s about fresh perspectives and trying new things. Keep an eye out for Leadership Matters in its new forms – and, as always, if you would like to contribute to the newsletter, then contact us via leadershipmatters@managersandleaders.com.au.    

Our membership offering has never been stronger because many professionals now recognise that leadership matters, especially in tough times. So, despite the extraordinary events of 2020 we had more Membership renewals than any other year in our history. We also saw New Zealand post the highest Member retention rate. I look forward to welcoming more managers and leaders into the IML ANZ community this year.

I hope that you’ve all had a much-needed summer break and reflected on how the challenges of 2020 has made you a better manager or leader. Let’s all look ahead to 2021 and continue to achieve much more for the management and leadership profession.

I believe we begin this year more resilient, wiser, confident and better equipped for new challenges the future might bring.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Leading Edge: November introduction from John Withers CMgr FIML, Chair of the Board

Welcome to the special ‘Chartered Edition’ of Leading Edge.

I’m delighted to say that IML ANZ’s Chartered Manager designation is continuing to gain momentum across Australia and New Zealand. November’s Leading Edge highlights the importance of becoming Chartered, the impact our designation has on the workplace and how IML ANZ Chartered Members are redefining the standard of leadership excellence.

Our Institute has always been driven to support the development of leadership skills because we know that managers and leaders make decisions that impact people’s lives in ways that are felt far beyond the workplace. The work we do to raise the national standard of management and leadership is central to this vision.

As leaders we know that there is no better feeling than contributing to worthwhile goals. Perhaps the pinnacle of our work in advancing professional standards is best represented by Chartered Managers. The designation continues to be at the centre of our Membership offering. As we are the only professional body that can award this globally recognised accreditation to managers in the region, it is a crucial element in promoting management and leadership excellence. As the highest status that managers can achieve, it truly embodies our commitment to the leadership profession.

While many of us prepare to wind down next month, I encourage you to consider this time as an opportunity to reflect on your own contribution and commitment to your profession, and perhaps to solidify that dedication through the Chartered Manager accreditation. There is no better time to apply for this honour than now as we look back on our successes and prepare for future endeavours.

When I went through the Chartered Manager accreditation process, although the actual procedure was relatively straightforward, it required me to think quite deeply about my own practice and reflect on my own leadership style and importantly what I was actually achieving in a much broader sense. In particular, the influence I had on my teams in the various leadership roles I had at the time, including the military, and public and community sectors. This self-reflection I found to be somewhat confronting but equally incredibly rewarding and worthwhile. So it was quite a different process in many ways. There are no lectures, classes or examinations – just a pragmatic reflection on your leadership journey and excellent support throughout the process.

Indeed, Chartered Managers don’t just accelerate their careers; they also enrich the performance of their organisations. Research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in the UK found that 91% of Chartered Managers see the designation as proof of their ability to deliver results. The research valued the additional contribution of a Chartered Manager at an average of $650,000 in added value to the company.

The Chartered designation is built around 34 key leadership competencies that comprise the Institute’s Competency Framework. This framework is the same practical model that drives IML ANZ’s learning and development products and services. In fact, some of our most popular Intentional
Leadership Programs
– including Foundations and Accelerate – set local leaders on the pathway to Chartered Manager.

If you are looking to gain recognition and reward for your contribution to the management and leadership profession, I encourage you to consider becoming a Chartered Manager. The designation has transformed the lives and careers of thousands of leadership professionals and the organisations they lead by raising the standard of management.

At the heart of our resolve to create better managers and leaders, I am inspired to see how IML ANZ Members have contributed to this throughout our 80-year history.

Today, Chartered Manager represents the peak of the Institute’s vision, mission and purpose. The value of our profession rests not on the authority or status we possess, but in the positive impact we make on those around us. Let’s continue to raise the standards of management and leadership. This is our contribution to a better society.

As we come to the end of this most unusual year, I want to invite you all to reflect on and celebrate our achievements as managers and leaders at our virtual IML ANZ end of year celebration on December 10. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from the Institute about our successes in 2020, and what to look forward to in the new year. We hope you can join us.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Leading Edge: October introduction from John Withers CMgr FIML, Chair of the Board

Welcome to the new look Leading Edge newsletter.  

We’ve refreshed the format and experience of our monthly Member update in response to the way Members engage with the Institute. I hope you enjoy the simpler and more contemporary layout that makes it easier for you to read and find the updates that interest you the most.  

This year, managers and leaders have had to find the right balance in everything we do. The shift to working from home meant that many of us were required to handle distractions, additional demands on our time and unfamiliar thoughts and emotions while still focusing on our business goals. It helps that we are part of a community here at IML ANZ that understands how crucial that balance is. In fact, this need for balance, especially when it comes to your professional development, guides our entire approach at the Institute. 

The term “head, heart and hands” is a common reference used to describe holistic and balanced learning. The “head” refers to the knowledge we acquire while the “heart” represents the emotional and human connections that impacts our learning. Finally, the “hands” represent how we apply both new knowledge and new behaviours through our actions. I’d like to use this month’s edition of Leading Edge to showcase some of the Institute’s best “head, heart and hands” offerings this quarter.  

It’s easy to identify knowledge; it sits at the foundation of the services we provide our Members and their businesses. Recently we held another Virtual Development Day, which focused on providing managers and leaders with the knowledge they need to build resilience. Attendees received many practical tips, guides and frameworks that they could implement immediately. The event – and the resources from each session – was provided free of charge to all IML ANZ Members. If you missed it, make sure to check out the session recordings featured in this newsletter. 

Another service provided by the Institute is the annual Australian National Salary Survey (NSS).  This provides managers, leaders and HR professionals with the data and market analyses they need to guide their remuneration and employee engagement decisions. The October release of the 2020 NSS Update, and the two supplementary reports, offers you the chance to receive valuable insights into the current Australian employment market. 

Undeniably, it is our Member-community here at IML ANZ that, when it comes to developing better managers and leaders, comprises the heart. We have all faced similar challenges and staying connected with like-minded managers and leaders offers valuable opportunities to grow and develop. The Institute is committed to its role in bringing managers and leaders together. Indeed, several upcoming Member events feature IML ANZ Members as guest speakers and as expert panellists. I would encourage you to take the opportunity to learn from the experiences and insights of your fellow Members by registering for a face-to-face or virtual event. 

A crucial aspect of a leader’s role is to help others to lead well. In this sense, the “hands” of the IML ANZ Membership experience is represented by our industry-leading mentoring program, called Member Exchange. The mentoring relationship is a unique forum for experienced professionals to share knowledge and leadership thinking. It is also an excellent means for our Members to support one another. I encourage you all to sign up to become a mentor. You never know whose leadership journey you’ll get to play a part in shaping!  

As Members of IML ANZ, we really do stand to gain the most value out of the Institute’s leadership community if we engage actively and when we support the leadership journey of others. It’s then that we are able to have an impact on the leadership community in the most meaningful way – by shaping the future of our profession. 

Keep leading well, always involving your head, heart and hands in everything you do. 

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board