After months of submissions, interviews and rigorous testing the 30 lucky scholars who made it are finally off to Marketing Academy Bootcamp this week.
As a former scholar I can’t help but feel a strong pang of envy – rarely in my life have I experienced such a life changing couple of days as Bootcamp One. So many new ideas, so much to learn, a feeling of being part of something really special and of course, a group of amazing new friends. If really is an experience you never forget.
But spare a thought for those left back at home. No, not the friends, family and partners (although that’s probably another blog post!) but rather the managers and employers who have supported their team members in getting up to this point so far. The start of this year can be a strange time for you as a manager – what should you expect? Do you need to change? How do you keep your newly inspired team member challenged and focused?
So I thought I’d pen a few thoughts on what to expect, and some ideas on how to make this year as amazing for you as it will be for the scholars on the programme.
1: Give them a platform to share
Scholars at Bootcamp are bombarded by new ideas, thinking and learning. Coming back from Bootcamp it can feel like you are bursting with new ideas you want to share.
As a manager, helping to create a platform to share this learning is vitally important, as it will give your scholar the chance to make a difference to other members of your team. Plus, it helps your scholar feel that the excitement of the journey they are on is shared by the rest of the team, and your organisation. Which it should be!
2: Be generous with their time
There’s no question about it, the Marketing Academy is a sizeable time commitment. This is very clear from the start and forms part of the nomination process, so as a manager you need to accept this fact if your scholar is to get the best out of the programme.
Yes, it will clash with important meetings. Yes, it will mean your scholar can’t work late sometimes, or might have to dash off when something needs to be done. But allowing your scholar the time to grow and to learn will be paid back in dividends as they develop through the programme.
3: Let them explore
At some point for most scholars over the year of the programme, they have a moment where they question everything about their lives. In fact, self-exploration and understanding, which leads to self-awareness and authentic leadership is a core part of the programme.
Giving your scholar the freedom to explore new things is a crucial part of good management over this year. It may be the support to build a new initiative internally, additional training to develop their skills in new ways, or just the time to put a bit extra into their Donate 28 charity. Either way, by giving them the chance to explore you’ll engender huge appreciation and loyalty.
4: Encourage them to bring their whole selves to work
As mentioned, authentic leadership is a core part of the course, and being an authentic leader means bringing your whole self to work. This will manifest itself differently for everyone – from mothers who want to spend more time with their children and work more flexibly, to people who want to bring a beloved pet to work, or simply scholars who want to see that their own values are reflected in the organisation they work with.
Taking the time to understand what’s important to your scholars and how they can be their whole selves at work will be hugely important, as they strive to give everything they have to become a more authentic leader.
5: Get involved!
The truth is, managed in the right way this can be a wonderful learning experience for those that lead the scholar as much as the scholar themselves. So get involved! Take the time out to talk to your scholar about what they are learning. Go to Marketing Academy events and take advantage of the amazing network. You could decide to sponsor the Academy next year, or run a faculty day. Or even put yourself forward for the Fellowship programme.
The opportunities to get involved are huge and will mean that it’s not just your scholar that becomes inspired, but your entire organisation.
So, to the scholars on this year’s Marketing Academy, and to their employers, friends, families, loved ones, well-wishers and pets: good luck and may 2015 / 16 be a wonderful year!
