New directors training and development

New director development: for managers who think they ought to be directors and directors who still think like managers. Are you really ready to be an effective board director? Do you appear confident and in control? Or do you sometimes look around the board and inwardly wish to be as good in certain areas as some more experienced directors? Especially in the first few months... Do you know what specific skills and processes a director needs? How much support did you get at your induction? Being honest, would you benefit from having some of your lesser skills developed or honed to meet the different needs of a directorship? If you would, then you will be interested in the comprehensive range of director coaching packages that we offer.

It really is different

You move up and up in your career. And suddenly you are a new director. You've got your directorship. You're on the board of directors. And everything is different. What director training did you get? What support do you need?

And as a successful director, you are appointed chairman. You've got the chairmanship. Again, different skills needed. Where do you turn?

The move from being a manager to a directorship – or from director to chairman – is a more than a change in responsibility, it is a major change in behaviour and identity. For most of your career you will have been becoming more expert in a narrower field, or focusing only on the interests of a single department. Suddenly, you need to have equal responsibility for all departments scanning the external environment for opportunities and developments and joining a new, elite, group at the top.

Executive coaching is the answer

Formal director training might help you to understand the legal implications of your new role and the responsibilities of company boards. But to help you make the behavioural changes, the best solution is personal support through executive coaching:-

• What are the challenges of the new role?
• What do your old colleagues expect of you now?
• How do you handle the change of status and relationships?
• What do your new boardroom colleagues expect of you?
• What do customers, suppliers and other stakeholders now expect?
• How do you handle dual responsibilities as head of department and board member?
• What practical steps should you take to improve your awareness, develop new skills, establish yourself in your new role?

Why not start off with a self assessment exercise? Our on-line BuddyCoach™ competence based assessment tool for directors is free. It will help you review your current strengths against: -

• Personal effectiveness
• Managing people
• Managing communications
• Effective directorship

You will then have an excellent indication of priority areas to address in a confidential executive coaching programme.

New director coaching packages

Transition coaching by an experienced external coach, both before and after your appointment will help you make a successful move into this new role. Check out our dedicated directors coaching packages.

These are completely flexible to meet your personal needs and to respond to events and challenges as they arise. However, they are designed to cover the following: -

• In-depth individual interview to explore current situation and aspirations
• Self assessment froms, personal review, 360° feedback from colleagues
• Psychometric profiling to identify your strengths and best role contribution
• Face to face coaching
• Informal telephone access to your personal coach

New directors and chairmen - improve your performance against external standards

The Institute of Directors publication Standards for the Board provides an excellent basis for an executive coaching programme. It is a benchmark standard which provides guidelines of good practice, including statutory requirements, for company directors, which should inform the way in which you collectively and individually conduct board business and discharge your responsibilities. It provides a framework within which company boards can develop, maintain and review their corporate governance policies and practices. And it helps boards improve their own performance and, through this, the success of their companies.

Sensible application of Standards will clarify your board's tasks and the way you conduct your affairs, and help you make many of your important decisions. It can be used as a tool for re-appraising what the board does and how it does it, and for taking actions which might otherwise not have been taken.

Standards also highlights the attributes required of individual directors if a board is to operate successfully, and can be used to assist in the selection, induction, training and development of directors.

Check out your effectiveness as a director with our free dynamic on-line training needs analysis.

Answer, honestly, could your board be more effective? Most boards could!

What to do next if you are already – or aspire to become – a new director

It's vital that you don't leave this site without identifying exactly what you need.

The reason you are here – is that you recognise there are areas of a director's role that need to be improved.

We can help with that...

Brefi Group possesses a unique combination of maturity, professional skills and human qualities required for coaching and mentoring top decision-makers and the leaders of the future, whether they be in commercial or public organisations or running a small company.

Such key individuals have the maximum leverage for change – you provide the leadership and role models for the rest of the organisation. You are under the greatest pressure, and are more likely to suffer from stress and an out of balance work/home life.

Spend as long as you can, visiting all the detailed pages relating to your area(s) of specific interest. It's simple to navigate, or use the search box at the top of the page.

When you are ready to move forward, the next step is easy.

Contact us, by telephone on 0845 0678 222 or +44 (0) 1462 410 357 if you are calling from outside the United Kingdom – or use our contact page.

If you are still undecided and would like to know a little bit more about us before making contact, please visit our About us page to consider our impeccable credentials and the many benefits we could offer to you and your organisation.

You will find further simple contact links available there.