SMG is Australia’s premier leadership development advisor. Since 1998, we’ve partnered with exceptional talent to elevate leadership skills and unlock organisational potential.
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Unlocking executive excellence
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Developing female talent
While many organisations have programs or initiatives to focus on individual high potential talent, far fewer have an aligned enterprise-wide strategy in place.
We support clients to develop high potential talent in parallel with internal mentors and sponsors, encouraging organisation wide adoption of initiatives.
We run parallel programs for female talent and senior mentors/sponsors, similar in structure and designed to create alignment and momentum.
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We include elements such as diagnostic tools, leadership development content on topics particularly relevant to female leaders, and forums for structured peer learning and building of networks. These are supported by proactively managed and supported career moves allowing access to crucial or pathway roles proven to accelerate progression into senior roles.
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Mentoring and sponsorship of female talent are widespread and they work; sponsorship by a (male) leader makes you 20% more likely to be promoted – although women are half as likely as men to have a sponsor. We take a structured approach to upskilling mentors, sponsors and line managers, to help them understand the specific issues female leaders face.
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A holistic set of policies and processes regularly reviewed through a gender lens is key. Ongoing review of key touchpoints such as EVP, recruitment, promotion, performance management and remuneration to ensure gender neutrality is paramount.
Core leadership capabilities such as stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills have been consistently identified by participants.
Closely linked to interpersonal impact but specifically relating to interaction with senior leaders and stakeholders. How to build confidence and impact with Executive stakeholders internally and externally.
Defining the next career steps, understanding the path ahead, and achieving agreed development goals with managers, as well as building and leveraging networks to support this aim.
How to become more efficient and deliver more value, both in the role but also through the team and – in future – at an enterprise level. This includes understanding and making the shift to enterprise leader.
Being open to new ideas and allowing oneself to be vulnerable are regularly Identified by participants in pre-program diagnostics, as are the benefits of peer connection and interaction, which would support this
Participants typically complete a wellness survey as part of our pre-program work, and elements of this, such as managing stress, workload pressure and focus, regularly emerge as themes in coaching conversations
Our programs take a blended approach to delivery, incorporating a range of elements that we believe are critical to success.
Leader-led
Visible participation, ownership and sponsorship from the CEO, Board or other senior stakeholders. This includes interviews with senior leaders sharing their experiences and the importance the organisation places on this issue.
Topics directly relevant to female leaders
The program is designed around content and development areas proven to be critical.
Self-paced digital learning
We provide participants with a range of bespoke learning content, including external research, tools and activities to undertake.
Peer coaching circles
We facilitate a series of sessions focused on the key topics, in which participants share experiences and offer insights and advice. These also help build connection and peer networks.
External coach-mentor input
We use experienced senior female leaders from our Executive Coaching faculty, allowing us not only to coach but to provide mentoring insights from their first-hand experience at the highest levels of corporate Australia.
Tailored to the organisation
We tailor our approach and content to each client, including incorporating leader videos, company data and insights into the digital learning and peer coaching sessions wherever possible.
Talk to our experts about the right solution for your team.
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