Common Purpose <

What is Focus?

Once a year a number of leaders from the business, public and voluntary/community sectors across South Yorkshire come together to learn how to expand their networks and improve their capacity to lead.

Over six fast-paced days participants…

grapple with solutions to real challenges facing organisations
gain new and more diverse networks
get behind-the-scenes briefings from other leaders at locations not usually accessible to the public
are inspired by other leaders and consider new ways to raise their game, grasp business opportunities for their organisations and operate as leaders not only within but also outside their organisations.

By the end of this journey participants are better equipped as leaders to:

See the wider context

Find out more about how your area works (the role of the different sectors, the levers of power, the drivers of future change)
Understand the importance of an active civil society
Build your leadership perspective by seeing the whole not just the parts
Meet local leaders and a network of local key players
Identify opportunities for making change happen in your organisation and in your area.

Adapt fast to new environments

Understand the importance of developing a challenging and diverse network
Develop understanding of diversity as a strength in organisations and in society
Develop your capacity to work in a diverse group

Produce change wherever they are

Develop your capacity as a leader in society as well as in your organisation
Be encouraged to take responsibility as a leader for making change happen

As a result, the leaders who have been on a Common Purpose programme think bigger, network more effectively and stand out as leaders.

Programme outline
:

16 July - 2 December 2008

Charting the waters

What are the rules of engagement? Where are we going? What are the key issues that need tackling? What is your role as a leader, both within and beyond your current authority? A two-day residential event designed to set the context for Focus.

16 & 17 July 08

(Residential)

Mapping the power

How does power really work in the area? Who are the powerful companies, organisations and individuals? And why? How do they get their power? How do they use it?

4 Sep 2008

Preparing to change

How fast can you adapt to new environments? Who needs to come together to make change happen? What can you learn from others about leading in unfamiliar territory? How can diverse networks help you?

1 Oct 2008

Tackling a challenge

Work together on a real local issue. Where do you start? What tools do you need? Who can help you? When do you take the lead - and when do you need to follow your fellow leaders?

6 Nov 2008

Leading real change

How do other people lead in different situations, sometimes outside their authority? How do you harness the creativity and innovation that diverse perspectives offer? How can you apply your learning to produce genuine change, both inside and outside your own sphere of influence?

2 Dec 2008

Sample agenda - Day 3: Mapping the power

Wednesday, 18 July 2007
8.30am	Arrival and breakfast
8.45am	Briefing for the Day
9.00am	Matrix of Influence Explore different types of power
9.45am	Wealth Creation and Power Hear from key players in the area
11.00am	Refreshment break
11.30am	Learning Groups - Me as a leader A challenge I face
12.30pm	Visits Preparation In your visit groups, formulate questions for your visit host.
12.45pm	Lunch
1.15pm	Visits An opportunity to visit significant organisations within the sub-region…
3.30pm	Refreshment Break
4.00pm	Who sets the agenda? Share learning with colleagues from the day so far. What can your group conclude about power and the economy across the sub region
4.45pm	Wealth Creation Present your thoughts on the day so far…
6.15pm	Reflections
6.30pm	Dinner

Sample agenda - Day 4: Preparing to change

Tuesday, 18 September 2007

Barnsley Digital Media Centre

8.30am

Arrival and breakfast

8.45am

Briefing for the Day

9.00am

Warm-up - Looking forward

Begin to consider the future for the area

9.30am

The Dominant and The Other: a clash of cultures

Explore some crucial issues relating to how we respond to difference

10.30am

Refreshment Break

11.00am

Learning Groups - Me as a leader

What's stopping me?

12.15pm

Lunch

1.00pm

Visits

Making change happen

Amanda Grossman, Director, Capex

John Lewis, Chief Executive, Barnsley/Rotherham Chamber of Commerce

Edna Sutton, Executive Director of Education, Barnsley MBC,

Janet Townsend, Chief Executive, Priory Campus

3.00pm

Refreshment Break

3.15pm

What should we do?

Reflect on what you have learnt - how can you lead beyond your authority?

3.45pm

Meet the experts - Leading change

A series of conversations with key players leading change in the local area. What can you learn from them and they from you?

Roz Brown, Chief Probation Officer, National Probation Service - South Yorkshire

Andy Buck, Chief Executive, Rotherham PCT

Hilary Massarella, Founder, SAFE@Last

Richard Wrigley, Managing Director, Beta Technology

5.15pm

Refreshment Break

5.30pm

Leadership in difficult territory

Hear from someone leading change, managing risk, influencing people and developing diverse networks.

Brian James Chief Executive, Rotherham Hospital

6.30pm

Leading change: What's required?

Reflect and pick out specific leadership learning

How to apply

We are delighted that you are considering applying for the

South Yorkshire 2008 Focus programme.

The fee is £2,625 + VAT. (which includes all materials, refreshments, and a signed copy of Beyond Authority: Leadership in a Changing World by Common Purpose founder Julia Middleton).

The closing date for applications is Friday, 23 May 2008. This programme can become oversubscribed, so we strongly urge you to apply as soon as possible.

Please complete an application and equal opportunities form online at www.commonpurpose.org.uk (choose “Our Programmes”, “Apply Online”, “Matrix/Focus programme”, then “South Yorkshire 2008”).

The equal opportunities form will load automatically for your completion once you have entered all the required information in the application form above.

We value diversity on our programmes and positively encourage applications from all sections of the community. This form is not considered in the selection process - but is designed to assist us in monitoring our commitment to diversity.

The Common Purpose Advisory Group for South Yorkshire are currently selecting participants.

Applicants are considered according to their:

current responsibility as a leader
likely contribution to the perspective and dynamics of the group

You will be notified as to whether your application has been successful.

Note: If for any reason you are unable to apply online, please contact us on +44(0)114 259 3066 or email: [email address]

Advisory Group