What happens when 10 senior leaders from all over the globe spend a week on Heir Island?
More accustomed to business lounges in international airports than a foot ferry to Heir Island, this team of 10 senior leaders from Sweden, Norway, UK, USA and China embraced the opportunity for something different for their annual strategy review and team development meeting.
The purpose of their visit was to continue their development as a senior team and focus on their leadership styles. As with the majority of senior management teams, the challenges have become more demanding and more complex. The expectations of direct reports continue to rise every year. How can one be expected to keep pace when ‘my job is calling’?
Our challenge was to work with the team to explore what progress had been made since we last met. We used the Leadership Circle assessments to inform the design of the week. It helped us to see how they felt they are currently operating as a team and where they would like to be in the future. This highlighted where they are making progress and where improvements are still to be made both individually and collectively.
By the end of the first day, the fresh air meant everyone was ready for some great food, sourced locally and a lovely glass of wine. Our chef Paola, from Italy, cooked all of the meals. She did a great job and it became very clear we were in danger of losing her to the team, (and she had a choice of which country to go to!), and was ably assisted by Patricia.
On Tuesday morning the sun was up early as were many of the team, off running to discover the delights of the island. No traffic, various terrains for running and the sound of the sea to keep them company.
As Tuesday unfolded in the Mobius Centre it became clear that the team had been making headway since we first met them. They had continued to work at improving their business results and were now able to be in challenging dialogues with each that had once been frustrating and resulted in outcomes that could have been more effective.
Each day bought with it more delightful food to sustain the work being done by the team. We sat in admiration observing the commitment they showed to each other and the desire to improve how they operate, as individuals and as a team, in order to produce excellence for their customers.
Each and every individual delighted in the peace and quiet; it enabled them to focus on key business issues, to focus on how they can harness their own abilities and grow as leaders to meet the challenges that are always there and to continue to understand their impact on people.
Being the only group here, they had time to be in dialogue with each other. After dinner, they could still be all together, sitting around the fire enjoying the lack of time difference and distance between them.
Everyone continued to fully embrace Heir Island, for it’s peacefulness, it’s beauty and it’s charm. One evening, before supper, a trip to the local pub on the mainland for a pint of Murphy’s or Guinness, and then home again, via the ferry.
Friday morning, it was time to depart. The week had flown by. Much had been achieved. Here to sum up are a few lines from the Executive Vice President – Joachim.
“It was truly fantastic for our team. Heir Island was as beautiful and calm as we ever could have imagined.
As you can imagine it was with mixed expectations (in the team) we came to Heir Island. Afterwards it was one voice and same message from all, really good and needed, the training perfectly combined with our strategy discussion.”
With workplace distractions stripped away and replaced with inspiring sea views, the Mobius Centre provides a place to step into fresh perspectives and bring new light on challenges and opportunities. A beautiful setting and relaxed atmosphere will leave clients refreshed and invigorated, ready to tackle the toughest of agendas.
The Mobius Centre is a place of transformation, personally and collectively.
All of our expectations were surpassed, the way they embraced the island and the island embraced them, the way they involved themselves in deep issues and along with the complex challenges, fun and laughter was had by all.
I guess a measure of success is, will they come back? Not long after afterwards we met with Joachim and 2015 is already booked.
