Welcome to the June edition of Leading Edge.

Most of you are familiar with the Institute’s vision of creating better managers and leaders for a better society. I think it’s very important to note that this vision is something we continually strive for in everything we do as an organisation. In fact, when we say ‘creating’, it actually means we are supporting, nurturing and building up better managers and leaders, no matter where they are in their career journey. So, in this edition of Leading Edge, I’d like to share how some of our recent efforts provide the support that managers and leaders need at every stage of their career.

Our point of difference as a learning and development provider can be hugely attributed to the way we nurture the leadership skills of professionals at every step of their career. With our Intentional Leadership™: Foundations program, we assist professionals who are new to management to confidently master the core management skills they need to move from ‘doing’ to leading. For managers of managers, we designed the Intentional Leadership™: Accelerate program to empower these senior leaders to influence the way organisations run. We want as many professionals to benefit from these two programs to contribute to the leadership community. So, until 30 June, managers who enrol in either of these two programs will enjoy $500 off the total price. If you know someone who could benefit from IML ANZ’s outstanding programs, please tell them all about it or share the information you’ll find in this newsletter.

The work that IML ANZ does supports not only individual managers but also leadership teams in various organisations. In fact, among the organisations we’ve worked with, some report improved teamwork between their leaders, while others expressed confidence that their managers and leaders are ready to step into more senior roles thanks to the in-house programs that we designed for them. Better leadership skills, the confidence to step up, and a healthy approach to working together are all ways our Corporate Solutions team is bringing our vision to life one company at a time. There are some wonderful examples of the work our team has accomplished. We’ve highlighted them in this month’s edition of Leading Edge.

As workplaces face more issues that affect their teams’ psychological wellbeing, we’ve been busy finding ways to help managers build up the knowledge, awareness, and skills they need to respond to these challenges. Last month, we hosted a hugely successful webinar covering a very crucial topic – gaslighting. If you missed it, you can still catch-up on all the strategies and tips shared on the day by viewing the session’s recording. You’ll find the link to the full video in this edition.

Finally, I’d like to thank all the Members who voted, participated, and attended our recent Annual General Meeting at our Brisbane office and online. I’m thrilled that Michelle Gander CMgr FIML and Scott Martin CMgr FIML will be joining us as Board Members. I’d also like to thank our previous Board Chair John Withers CMgr FIML, and Board Director Stephanie McConachy FIML. They have been integral to the accomplishments achieved by our organisation in a challenging year. As I step into the role of Board Chair, I know that the Institute will continue to create better managers and leaders at every stage of their leadership career.

Marie-Louise Pearson FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the May edition of Leading Edge.

A hallmark of good management is anticipating changing circumstances and possessing the foresight to prepare for these events. At times like these, it is empowering as well as reassuring knowing that you are equipped with the information, capabilities and appropriate options to respond when such situations arise. That’s why in this edition of Leading Edge, I’d like to highlight just some of the ways that we as a community at IML ANZ can help each other to prepare for major management and leadership moments.

Handling challenging situations is part and parcel of taking on a management role. Therefore, it is prudent for us to prepare ourselves with the appropriate knowledge and strategies to deal with complex challenges involving our teams. So, at our next Development Day in June, we’ll take a comprehensive look at potential challenging circumstances managers face when guiding and supporting their staff through such times. Leading industry experts will guide us through crucial topics, including how to deal with problem behaviours among staff, how to help staff overcome conflict and how to manage up. As always, your access to Development Day is entirely free as an IML ANZ Member. You’ll find all the details about how to book your spot for the next Development Day in this month’s Leading Edge. 

As the business landscape continues to stabilise, significant opportunities for career growth and progression have certainly increased. That is why continuing your journey as an IML ANZ Member is an excellent way to prepare for whatever the next big step of your career may be. This year, we are making your career progression our priority by supporting you with the development opportunities, resources, and community engagement you need. You will have received communications about renewing your annual Membership. I encourage you to speak with the team at IML ANZ if you are unsure about any aspects of your Membership.

For some in our community, stepping into a more demanding leadership and management role might be the major career move. Those new to management may find themselves struggling to shift from a ‘doing’ mindset to a ‘leading’ approach. One skill that could help strengthen the confidence and focus of new managers is delegation. However, we recognise that it may not be a skill that comes naturally for most professionals. So, the team has created a checklist to help managers, especially those new to their roles, master delegation skills. We took the content for this resource from our highly successful Intentional Leadership Foundations program. You might be struggling with this skill or know someone who needs help when it comes to effective delegation. I invite you to download the resource via the link in this month’s newsletter.

I want to end by thanking you for your support and encouragement during my time as your Board Chair. As I will be stepping down at this year’s Annual General Meeting this will be my final note to you as a member of the Board. It has been my absolute pleasure to serve you as an elected member on the Board and more recently as its chair. As a long term member of this organisation and as a Board member for many years, I’m impressed, and at times surprised, at how far we have come over the last few years since the national merger. We’ve enhanced IML ANZ’s relevance in the management community and are on our way to be the undisputed leader in raising the management and leadership practice standards in Australia and New Zealand.

In closing, I wish you, our Members, and the new IML ANZ Board, all the best for the future.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the April edition of Leading Edge.

This month I want to reflect on the things that tie our community of managers and leaders together. Sports teams wear uniforms, and that is the physical representation of their ‘membership’. Apart from our post-nominals, we don’t have anything akin to a uniform. But what we do have are traits, attitudes and behaviours that identify us as Members of the Institute. I want to highlight those in this edition of Leading Edge.

Firstly, we are a community of professionals who should demonstrate the highest management and leadership standards — no question about it. Our Membership includes top managers in Australia and New Zealand who lead the region in expertise, experience and by example. It should be no surprise then that we would be a very sought-after group when it comes to recruiting the finest in our profession. That’s why the Institute has introduced a new service for our Members and others in the IML ANZ community – the IML ANZ Jobs Hub. This gives our Members the opportunity to apply for roles with businesses who value our professional excellence and for organisations to identify and hire top managers and leaders. Through this platform, you can post job ads or view existing ads for managers and leaders. You can enjoy discounts when you recruit using the platform (please use the code: IMLMEMDISC). I invite you to read the information included in this edition of the newsletter and explore the IML ANZ Jobs Hub.

Another defining quality of our community is that we genuinely care about the future of management and leadership. We demonstrate that through our top-rated mentoring program, Member Exchange. Cohort after cohort, our mentors and mentees form trusting, supportive mentoring relationships that ensure the voice of experience guides future leaders. In the past year, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of mentoring pairs. There is no stronger evidence of our care and concern for the profession of management and leadership than this commitment to supporting each other, especially when times are tough. If you haven’t been a mentor or mentee before, I encourage you to learn more about the program through the information in this month’s Leading Edge. I have personally found my role as a mentor on this program as a rewarding experience.

You can also identify an IML ANZ Member by their diverse professional network. Management is a unique profession in that we bond not through our technical knowledge but in our desire to further our ‘soft’ or people skills. Our Member networking events help us do just that. Not only do we interact with managers and leaders from a broad spectrum of technical fields, but we are united by the topics we discuss at these forums. Thus, we form connections that are unique in the professional world. I believe these events are truly invaluable and would love to see you at one of our upcoming networking events, whether that’s face-to-face or virtual. Please see this edition for more information on events near you.

Finally, we are defined by our expertise in management and leadership. Our Members are often respected experts in their field. We are always delighted to hear from our Members and create many opportunities to build their profiles as managers and leaders in the community. We could profile you in our Leadership Matters newsletter, feature your written contributions on crucial management topics on our blog, or you could even be a guest speaker at a networking event. If you want to build your professional profile or reach more of the IML ANZ Membership, please get in touch with us through the contact details included in this newsletter.

Although we don’t put on uniforms, our behaviours, actions, and attitude towards management and leadership mark us as Members of IML ANZ. Please keep identifying yourself in that way because the mark of great leadership always matters.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the March edition of Leading Edge.

The beginning of any endeavour is always exciting; a new role, a new way of working or even a new year. What’s challenging is maintaining momentum. That’s why in this edition of Leading Edge, I’d like to highlight some of the ways your Institute can help you maintain and develop your leadership skills.

Like so many vital leadership skills, communication is one that we must continually focus on. This month, IML ANZ Members once again joined our highly successful Virtual Development Day, featuring a range of communication topics. In the first instalment for 2021, we unpacked how you can master workplace conversations. The day consisted of several sessions covering topics such as managing disagreements, performance conversations, and how to be assertive. As always, Members enjoyed complimentary access to the day and the session recordings. If you weren’t able to attend the day, I encourage you to watch the recorded practical and insightful sessions that will help us all continue to build our proficiency in workplace communication.

Much like communication, good decision-making also sits at the heart of outstanding leadership. To assist you we’ve created a quick checklist that can help managers remain focused when making tough decisions. This resource, featured in our Accelerate Leadership program, is an excellent tool that can help you or someone you know achieve their goals by making better decisions. You can download this checklist in this edition of Leading Edge.

Creating a robust and diverse community of managers and leaders is another activity that we want to focus on throughout the year. By bringing in new Members into the IML ANZ community, we can increase and enrich our interactions with other leaders through the ideas we exchange, and the connections we can make. To help with this, we’re offering new Members 15 months’ worth of Membership for the price of 12 months. As an incentive, if you refer someone in your network to join the Institute, we’ll give you a complimentary copy of either Leadership Matters: 7 skills of very successful leaders or Leading Well: 7 attributes of very successful leaders. You’ll find more information in this edition of Leading Edge. 

Finally, following a year of so much change for many of us, it can be easy to lose track of our personal information that needs updating. To assist us in providing you with the most relevant resources and delivering them in the way that suits you best, I’d ask that you take a few minutes this month to check your personal details that we have recorded in our member data. You’ll find a convenient, personalised link in this edition that you can easily update. 

Regards,

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the February edition of Leading Edge.

The Institute is driven by our desire to enrich our management and leadership community and that is the focus of this month’s edition of Leading Edge. I want to give you a quick roundup of some of the ways your Membership supports you in engaging with the management community on a professional, local and global level.

IML ANZ’s Masterclasses are an excellent way to build professional connections and are now a growing pillar of CPD for many managers and leaders. So, with the needs of managers and leaders in mind, we’ve redesigned the way we deliver our Masterclass offerings for 2021. We’ve expanded the depth we cover our most popular topics, and we now offer these as a series. This means that you can master the leadership skills you need at a pace and frequency that suits you, without sacrificing the depth of understanding each Masterclass series provides. Delving deep into critical leadership skills is a great way to unite management and leadership professionals through shared knowledge. You’ll find more information in this newsletter, and I encourage you to check out which series might be relevant to you or to your team.

At IML, we understand that with so much information now available on demand it can be a little overwhelming. That’s why in creating your Member Portal we’ve made sure that when you login, you’ll receive information that is practical to you. Likewise, the resources available via Leadership Direct are exclusive to Members of IML ANZ and feature tools, checklists, guides, and research focussed on managers and leaders’ needs. Our Member Portal is a key way that we enrich the IML ANZ community by empowering you to curate your own development plan for 2021.

Sound management and leadership practise has never been more sought after than it is today. As such, it might be a good time to reassess whether you are eligible to attain the prestigious Chartered Manager designation. Chartered Managers are part of a global community of management experts who represent leadership excellence. During this month, we are offering $100 off the assessment fee when you apply. As a Chartered Manager myself, I know that the accreditation has helped me develop both professionally and as a leader.

The dedication of our members in raising our management and leadership practice in our various professions and broader society continues to inspire me. In return, we hope that we offer you a suite of Membership benefits that you can equally be proud of. We strive to bring together our local community of managers and leaders and inspire them to realise our vision. That’s where Member Advocates play a crucial role. I believe that our Member Advocates best represent what our community stands for. They support and promote our vision by hosting local events, actively sharing our content via social media, and providing much-needed advice on decisions that will affect IML ANZ’s local Member community. If you want to play a more active role in raising the management and leadership standards in your region, please contact our Membership team.

So, let’s continue to create a community that we can be proud of. We can all play a part in enriching our professional, local and global communities by making the most out of your Membership.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the January edition of Leading Edge and of course into 2021.

For many managers and leaders, this year represents I expect not only challenges, but also hope and a fresh start. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that 2020 thoroughly challenged how we work, lead and live. However I start the year confident, knowing that many of us flourished despite the difficulties. That’s why in the first edition of Leading Edge this year, I’d like to update you on some of the exciting changes and improvements we’re introducing.

As our society’s paradigm of the ideal workplace shifts, IML ANZ continues to move with agility to deliver valuable products, services and resources to our Members. Of course in response to government and health guidelines, all our Member Lounges remain closed. But we understand the importance of keeping Members connected, which is why we will continue to deliver virtual Member Connect events in 2021. These virtual events present opportunities to bring professionals from across Australia and New Zealand closer despite the distance. It remains a vital part of our Membership offering as physical distancing requirements persist in many regions.

In 2021, we’re continuing to help leaders deep-dive into crucial topics that deal directly with the challenges of the time. Expect to see more of our highly successful Virtual Development Days in 2021. Last year, thousands of participants benefited from these sessions at a time when managers needed sound guidance the most. So keep an eye out for your invitation to the next Virtual Development Day.

The events of 2020 had helped leaders to rethink the merit of agility in so many ways. We’ve had to reflect on it too, particularly when it comes to the way we keep our Membership informed, engaged and energised by the latest ideas in leadership. We have decided to change the way we deliver Leadership Matters content. Instead of a quarterly magazine, I’m excited to announce that you will now receive Leadership Matters as a monthly newsletter. In addition, we are looking forward to launching our brand-new podcast in 2021. The popularity of podcasts has skyrocketed as it has become a pragmatic way to take in knowledge, information and new ideas. Our goal is to provide you with the leadership thinking you need, in a format that best suits our modern lifestyles.

I know some of you may miss the magazine’s print version, while others may welcome the environmental benefits of the new approach. On weighing the benefits of a more frequent and timely newsletter and podcast, we decided that if 2021 is about nothing else, it’s about fresh perspectives and trying new things. Keep an eye out for Leadership Matters in its new forms – and, as always, if you would like to contribute to the newsletter, then contact us via leadershipmatters@managersandleaders.com.au.    

Our membership offering has never been stronger because many professionals now recognise that leadership matters, especially in tough times. So, despite the extraordinary events of 2020 we had more Membership renewals than any other year in our history. We also saw New Zealand post the highest Member retention rate. I look forward to welcoming more managers and leaders into the IML ANZ community this year.

I hope that you’ve all had a much-needed summer break and reflected on how the challenges of 2020 has made you a better manager or leader. Let’s all look ahead to 2021 and continue to achieve much more for the management and leadership profession.

I believe we begin this year more resilient, wiser, confident and better equipped for new challenges the future might bring.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the special ‘Chartered Edition’ of Leading Edge.

I’m delighted to say that IML ANZ’s Chartered Manager designation is continuing to gain momentum across Australia and New Zealand. November’s Leading Edge highlights the importance of becoming Chartered, the impact our designation has on the workplace and how IML ANZ Chartered Members are redefining the standard of leadership excellence.

Our Institute has always been driven to support the development of leadership skills because we know that managers and leaders make decisions that impact people’s lives in ways that are felt far beyond the workplace. The work we do to raise the national standard of management and leadership is central to this vision.

As leaders we know that there is no better feeling than contributing to worthwhile goals. Perhaps the pinnacle of our work in advancing professional standards is best represented by Chartered Managers. The designation continues to be at the centre of our Membership offering. As we are the only professional body that can award this globally recognised accreditation to managers in the region, it is a crucial element in promoting management and leadership excellence. As the highest status that managers can achieve, it truly embodies our commitment to the leadership profession.

While many of us prepare to wind down next month, I encourage you to consider this time as an opportunity to reflect on your own contribution and commitment to your profession, and perhaps to solidify that dedication through the Chartered Manager accreditation. There is no better time to apply for this honour than now as we look back on our successes and prepare for future endeavours.

When I went through the Chartered Manager accreditation process, although the actual procedure was relatively straightforward, it required me to think quite deeply about my own practice and reflect on my own leadership style and importantly what I was actually achieving in a much broader sense. In particular, the influence I had on my teams in the various leadership roles I had at the time, including the military, and public and community sectors. This self-reflection I found to be somewhat confronting but equally incredibly rewarding and worthwhile. So it was quite a different process in many ways. There are no lectures, classes or examinations – just a pragmatic reflection on your leadership journey and excellent support throughout the process.

Indeed, Chartered Managers don’t just accelerate their careers; they also enrich the performance of their organisations. Research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in the UK found that 91% of Chartered Managers see the designation as proof of their ability to deliver results. The research valued the additional contribution of a Chartered Manager at an average of $650,000 in added value to the company.

The Chartered designation is built around 34 key leadership competencies that comprise the Institute’s Competency Framework. This framework is the same practical model that drives IML ANZ’s learning and development products and services. In fact, some of our most popular Intentional Leadership Programs – including Foundations and Accelerate – set local leaders on the pathway to Chartered Manager.

If you are looking to gain recognition and reward for your contribution to the management and leadership profession, I encourage you to consider becoming a Chartered Manager. The designation has transformed the lives and careers of thousands of leadership professionals and the organisations they lead by raising the standard of management.

At the heart of our resolve to create better managers and leaders, I am inspired to see how IML ANZ Members have contributed to this throughout our 80-year history.

Today, Chartered Manager represents the peak of the Institute’s vision, mission and purpose. The value of our profession rests not on the authority or status we possess, but in the positive impact we make on those around us. Let’s continue to raise the standards of management and leadership. This is our contribution to a better society.

As we come to the end of this most unusual year, I want to invite you all to reflect on and celebrate our achievements as managers and leaders at our virtual IML ANZ end of year celebration on December 10. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from the Institute about our successes in 2020, and what to look forward to in the new year. We hope you can join us.

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board

Welcome to the new look Leading Edge newsletter.  

We’ve refreshed the format and experience of our monthly Member update in response to the way Members engage with the Institute. I hope you enjoy the simpler and more contemporary layout that makes it easier for you to read and find the updates that interest you the most.  

This year, managers and leaders have had to find the right balance in everything we do. The shift to working from home meant that many of us were required to handle distractions, additional demands on our time and unfamiliar thoughts and emotions while still focusing on our business goals. It helps that we are part of a community here at IML ANZ that understands how crucial that balance is. In fact, this need for balance, especially when it comes to your professional development, guides our entire approach at the Institute. 

The term “head, heart and hands” is a common reference used to describe holistic and balanced learning. The “head” refers to the knowledge we acquire while the “heart” represents the emotional and human connections that impacts our learning. Finally, the “hands” represent how we apply both new knowledge and new behaviours through our actions. I’d like to use this month’s edition of Leading Edge to showcase some of the Institute’s best “head, heart and hands” offerings this quarter.  

It’s easy to identify knowledge; it sits at the foundation of the services we provide our Members and their businesses. Recently we held another Virtual Development Day, which focused on providing managers and leaders with the knowledge they need to build resilience. Attendees received many practical tips, guides and frameworks that they could implement immediately. The event – and the resources from each session – was provided free of charge to all IML ANZ Members. If you missed it, make sure to check out the session recordings featured in this newsletter. 

Another service provided by the Institute is the annual Australian National Salary Survey (NSS).  This provides managers, leaders and HR professionals with the data and market analyses they need to guide their remuneration and employee engagement decisions. The October release of the 2020 NSS Update, and the two supplementary reports, offers you the chance to receive valuable insights into the current Australian employment market. 

Undeniably, it is our Member-community here at IML ANZ that, when it comes to developing better managers and leaders, comprises the heart. We have all faced similar challenges and staying connected with like-minded managers and leaders offers valuable opportunities to grow and develop. The Institute is committed to its role in bringing managers and leaders together. Indeed, several upcoming Member events feature IML ANZ Members as guest speakers and as expert panellists. I would encourage you to take the opportunity to learn from the experiences and insights of your fellow Members by registering for a face-to-face or virtual event. 

A crucial aspect of a leader’s role is to help others to lead well. In this sense, the “hands” of the IML ANZ Membership experience is represented by our industry-leading mentoring program, called Member Exchange. The mentoring relationship is a unique forum for experienced professionals to share knowledge and leadership thinking. It is also an excellent means for our Members to support one another. I encourage you all to sign up to become a mentor. You never know whose leadership journey you’ll get to play a part in shaping!  

As Members of IML ANZ, we really do stand to gain the most value out of the Institute’s leadership community if we engage actively and when we support the leadership journey of others. It’s then that we are able to have an impact on the leadership community in the most meaningful way – by shaping the future of our profession. 

Keep leading well, always involving your head, heart and hands in everything you do. 

John Withers CMgr FIML

Chair of the Board