A report this week (03 October) presented to the Staff Governance Committee outlined a refreshed approach to leadership and management development for current and aspiring people managers at Aberdeen City Council.
Convener of Staff Governance, Councillor Neil Copland, said: “Our people are our greatest asset so continuing to evaluate and renew the way we support and develop our workforce is crucial.
“It’s imperative our leadership and management programme supports managers to align their team and employees with the vision and direction of the council and city.”
Vice Convener of Staff Governance, Councillor Gill Al-Samarai, said: “We have a duty to ensure our people managers and leaders, both now and in the future, are enabled to lead and support their teams through the changes, and upskill and align themselves to meet the needs of the evolving organisation and city.”
People managers at all stages in their leadership careers will be supported to develop and nurture the people and skills needed to deliver the council’s transformation programme, and ultimately the collective vision for the future of Aberdeen, through four core programmes.
This includes a programme for aspiring leaders – where high potential people are identified, encouraged, and supported to grow their leadership careers with the council.
All programmes will encourage a coaching approach to leadership and management, which will enable people managers at Aberdeen City Council to:
- Engage and connect people through our shared purpose of protecting the people and place from harm and enabling them to prosper;
- Inspire and motivate people at all stages in their careers to develop themselves and deliver results;
- Recognise and celebrate great performance;
- Understand individual needs and differences, lead multi-generational teams and support employee mental health, wellbeing and inclusion.
This approach to Leadership & Management Development forms one strand of the upcoming Workforce Strategy, which will be presented to Staff Governance Committee in November.
This strategy sets out the council’s wider vision for attracting, developing, and retaining the diverse talent needed to deliver the best possible outcomes for the people and place of Aberdeen.
A further report will be presented in 12 months to committee detailing the progress made within the programme.