Enhancing managers knowledge of Allyship to become more Inclusive Leaders
RightTrack have collaborated with a global leader in the food manufacturing industry, that had a desire to create a positive workplace culture by equipping their leaders with the understanding, skills and mindset required to be effective allies in their teams.
Following an Inclusive Leaders launch event, the leadership team experienced a modular programme enhanced with:
- A focus on recurring themes and challenges, evidenced in employee surveys and feedback
- Professional actors bringing uncomfortable but familiar situations to life
- 6 module-specific toolkits to embed the learning from each session
- Reflective discussions with peers learning from one another
The Story
The desire for a more in-depth approach, which would allow the food manufacturer’s leaders to not only develop their existing knowledge but to also embed allyship behaviours into their everyday practices, prompted the Director of Organisational Development at the organisation to find a bespoke solution; one which was embedded with continuous learning and reflection.
With a diverse workforce and various stakeholder touchpoints, Jess Sandham, Head of Research, Design & Transformation at RightTrack, took on the role of understanding the organisation’s current culture and individual and organisational key challenges with a series of data surveys which gathered quantitative and qualitative data. Through comprehensive analysis of employee survey results and employee feedback, Jess identified recurring themes which then formed focus areas. These key themes, which were prioritised based on their potential to drive positive changes, were then woven into the programme’s objectives.
In close collaboration with the food manufacturer, RightTrack Learning designed a fully bespoke Leaders as Allies Modular Programme. Based on the research findings, the learning outcomes of the programme were tailored so not only did they align with the immediate training needs, but also with the broader organisational approach and objectives.
Taking a deep dive into allyship, psychological safety and practical leadership behaviours, Jess launched the programme with a virtual event introducing the programme objectives and helping leaders to understand that allyship is not merely a concept but a practice that must be woven into daily leadership.
The Programme
The multi-faceted programme, which included professional actors playing out real-life situations that had occurred within the workforce, followed a modular approach that aligned with the food manufacturer’s leaders’ unique needs and learning journey:
- Reflecting on allyship strengths and opportunities: Current allyship practices and identifying ways to be more effective inclusive leaders.
- Inclusive and equitable collaboration: Enhancing teamwork and ensuring all voices are heard and valued in the collaborative process.
- Mid-point programme review: Reflecting on each other’s successes and discovering opportunities for continued improvement.
- Creating fair and inclusive opportunities for career growth: Equipping leaders with the tools to design and implement career development paths that are accessible and equitable.
- Intentionality, authenticity, and curiosity: Cultivating a leadership style that is purpose-driven, genuine, and open to continual learning and understanding.
- Delivering great business outcomes through inclusivity: Exploring how inclusivity is a key driver of business success.
Enhancing the learning process, module-specific toolkits followed each session. The toolkits, designed by RightTrack specialists, included real-life scenarios and practical activities with the aim to develop their ability to be effective allies. The tools encouraged participants to understand how the learning applied to their role and also provided a basis for discussion in subsequent modules. Through collective reflection, participants were able to share their experiences, challenges and successes of applying the module content to their individual role, allowing peers to learn from one another.
The Impact
Evident in the evaluation forms following the sessions, the programme left a lasting impact on the participants:
- “Informative and enjoyable, brought to life in an interesting way”
- “Actors made the scenario feel real. Emphasising the importance of getting it right”
- “Eye-opening, inspiring, and actionable”
- “The program provided practical tools for change and fostered a willingness to share personal experiences.”
- Others echoed this sentiment, stating that actors added “authenticity” and “brought real-world scenarios to life,” making the learning experience “impactful”.
- “Thanks for the session, informative and enjoyable, brought to life in an interesting way.”
Not only did 100% of the participants enjoy the course, but all the delegates also said they would recommend it to others. One of RightTrack’s fundamental aims in providing training solutions is to guarantee that learners depart with actionable takeaways. Here’s a quick snapshot of those key actions when asked what they would do differently:
- “Be more aware of the power and importance of cross functional allyship”.
- “Give the quiet ones a voice and include them in the group”.
- “Start a anti bullying campaign and change the culture”.
- “Listen and encourage”