The step up programme

Architects, engineers and other built environment specialists tend to be promoted for their design skills and technical abilities. When entering more senior roles they are expected to take on additional responsibilities such as team management, client relationships and work winning. These aren’t skills that come naturally to everyone.

Step Up is a leadership development programme that combines group and 1:1 coaching. Each programme is designed to meet the specific needs of the commissioning organisation. Over a period of several months it increases confidence and gravitas, improves communication skills and generally helps people to be more effective in their management roles, quickly.

These programmes support the wider involvement in the leadership of a business necessitated by growth or changes such as succession or the move to an EOT structure. Sometimes that means focusing purely on support for the next generation of leaders, other times it’s more appropriate to work with the whole senior leadership team including the principals.

Everything we do is bespoke so do please contact us to discuss your needs.

During succession, growth and change

Succession planning is slowly improving across the sector, but these periods still place significant demands on a business. Leaders must look ahead while navigating complex questions of money, exits and legacy. At the same time, the senior team is shifting, and ensuring they work effectively together and that individuals transition smoothly into new roles is essential to maintaining stability and momentum.

Step Up is often appointed during these moments of transition. What’s needed isn’t just a tick box exercise in leadership training, it’s a programme which builds capability while supporting the deeper cultural changes needed for the next chapter.

When something’s not quite right

Running a business is demanding at the best of times. But when something in the leadership team isn’t working, you feel it everywhere: decisions slow down, conversations are fraught, trust breaks down, and the atmosphere becomes heavy. Divergent priorities, external challenges, unresolved tension or misaligned visions can quietly build into conflict, or worse, a quiet, grinding disengagement that affects the whole business.

In these moments, leaders often know something isn’t right, but can’t quite put their finger on what’s really going on. That’s where we help. We create the space to bring the unspoken into the open safely and constructively so the team can rebuild trust and regroup.

We are able to use particular tools such as motivational maps and conflict preference assessments to support this work where appropriate. Rachel and Louise both have specific additional qualifications in team coaching.

Workshops

We can design and deliver workshops in most areas of leadership so just call if you have a particular requirement.

Recent examples include personal impact, working with those with different styles, delegation and empowerment, mentoring and difficult conversations.

  • “I feel like a different person! I’m approaching things differently and definitely inspiring people more by giving them more space".

  • “I have stopped avoiding things that are ‘difficult’ and started having better conversations with people when they’re needed."

  • “The programme flexed around the needs of the business and responded to the difficult circumstances presented by the pandemic… we have seen an increase in leadership confidence across the group.’

  • “Step Up has provided a guided space and expertise to enable discussions to take place within the practice that needed to take place.”

  • “I have taken a lot from your sessions and it has helped me greatly in my day to day management. Your passion and knowledge immediately engaged me and I’d like to thank you for that.”

  • “As I feel more confident, my clients feel more confident in me, I have noticed a difference.”

  • “I have learned better ways to delegate and manage different styles.”

  • “The good thing about coaching is that it doesn’t give you the answers but helps you develop techniques to recognise areas of improvement and come up with ways to solve them yourself.”

  • “Rachel and Louise were excellent and couldn’t have been more positive and supportive.”

  • "The space to stop, think and share thoughts has been invaluable. I’m making better decisions and feeling so much more confident. I can see the effect of that on the team too".