The Babcock Programme – Virtual teams – leading for productivity and wellbeing

2020 has been a year of change and for many of our employees it is the first time they have had to operate remotely for a period of longevity.  As a business we are adapting and looking at how we can support a more agile way of working, and we want to ensure our employees/teams are being equipped to work effectively remotely.​

​This programme is designed for leaders who are ready to make a substantial investment in their virtual and remote management capability, with an aim to create and support a team capable of sustained high performance while maintaining resilient wellbeing and community care and growth.

If you undertake this programme fully, it will enable you to:

  • gain the skills, processes and techniques that build confidence to manage in a virtual setting, and effectively use available technology and social processes to create and communicate with a purposeful, engaged and connected team
  • learn to use focused and pragmatic virtual support tools, that align with existing culture change intentions, and augment other programmes – for example build on the core principles of ‘care’ and ‘growth’
  • develop the ability to use dialogue to engage others to ensure their full participation in team life, creating the foundations for resilience, effectiveness and wellbeing
  • learn how to maintain productivity and mental/emotional health when working remotely – identifying signs of health issues and burnout in yourself and others, developing resilience in managing stress and finding balance
  • ensure a fair and consistent approach to management is applied to all employees regardless of where or how they work, for example how you agree and manage objectives, or how you support and deal with performance challenges or issues arising from WFH or flexible working demands
  • develop the different ways you ‘turn up’ as a leader, and impact others in the virtual ‘space’, building your unique, legitimate and authentic leadership presence and voice.

To do this, you will be investing between 1 and 2 hours per week, and take a deep interest in your own leadership practices, habits and ways of working.  You will be expected to experiment with new ideas, and bring your learning to a regular, facilitated learning group of peers.

Are you ready to develop your leadership of remote and virtual teams?

See what your programme is offering

To find out more about the programme please take a look at the graphic below.  The final version of this programme will have a video instead of a static graphic, explaining briefly the different elements of each step on the journey.

You will also be able to download the graphic itself, with full dates for your programme (to be added).

Click here for full programme with dates

Programme contents

  • Babcock VL1 – Release 1 – Contents
    5 minutes
  • VL – What changes when we lead ‘virtually’?
    20 minutes
  • VL – Learn from 2020/21 – Why you need to mitigate risks of burnout and lost productivity/connection
    120 minutes
  • Virtual Peer Support Groups – introduction
    12 minutes
  • Babcock VL1 – Release 1 – Virtual leader launch ‘MIE’
    Text Based
  • Babcock Virtual Management Discussion Space
  • Babcock VL1 – Release 2 – Contents
    5 minutes
  • Restore your sense of autonomy and control – practices to build choice and impact in the ‘new normal’
    90 minutes
  • VL – Checklists, tips and hygiene factors for productive virtual meetings
    45 minutes
  • VL – Focus, attention and engagement – multitasking, concentration and improving efficiency
    50 minutes
  • VL – Stay connected when remote – tips and tech for community productivity and social health
    30 minutes
  • Babcock Virtual Management Discussion Space
  • Babcock VL1 – Release 3 – Contents
    5 minutes
  • VL – Personal presence and voice
    15 minutes
  • Develop your generative presence to be at your best
    30 minutes
  • VL – Focus, attention and engagement – good practices for productive meetings
    45 minutes
  • VL – Video or audio for virtual meetings?
    45 minutes
  • The gift of skilful listening
    90 minutes
  • Babcock Virtual Management Discussion Space
  • Babcock VL1 – Know yourself – Contents
    5 minutes
  • Know self to lead others
    40 minutes
  • Understand your personal ‘drivers’
    45 minutes
  • Babcock VL1 – Release 4 – Contents
    5 minutes
  • What drives top team performance?
    60 minutes
  • Understand human needs to build trust
    60 minutes
  • Trust and trust-building
    60 minutes
  • Babcock Virtual Management Discussion Space
  • Babcock VL1 – Release 5 – Contents
    5 minutes
  • Designing and leading meetings that get results
    120 minutes
  • Dialogue and generativity (draft)
    0 minutes
  • Hosting, convening and facilitating
    180 minutes
  • Babcock Virtual Management Discussion Space
  • Babcock VL1 – Release 6 – Contents
    5 minutes
  • Introducing growth mindset
    45 minutes
  • Growth mindset ‘under fire’ – stress, anxiety and threat
    45 minutes
  • Boosting cognitive, emotional and social resourcefulness (draft)
    0 minutes
  • Your ‘bounce-forward’ toolkit to share with your team (draft)
    0 minutes
  • Babcock Virtual Management Discussion Space
  • Babcock VL1 – Deeper performance toolkit – Contents
    5 minutes
  • Challenge, support and the ‘drama triangle’
    25 minutes
  • The art of the question
    20 minutes
  • Difficult conversations and feedback
    40 minutes
  • Working positively with resistance
    120 minutes
  • The power of purposeful teams
    60 minutes
  • The power of purposeful teams – workshop templates for purpose, strengths and values
    60 minutes

This programme offers

Work through it in your own way - binge or nibble?

This programme is based on a commitment of around 2 hours per week.  Some people like to 'binge learn', meaning that they allocate a whole day, and sink into a thorough immersion in a whole module.  Others prefer to take 1-2 hours per week, and work through a single lesson at a time.

Whatever your preference is, you are advised to book time in your diary, to ensure it happens regularly and you can keep up with the programme.

Different types of media to suit all needs

Each lesson will mix videos to watch, with material to read.

Plus there are downloadable handouts, worksheets, templates and checklists to print and take away, and keep for future reference.

Help always at hand

This programme has an external Programme Manager Julie Britten.  You can reach her quickly and easily - and she can help you through most difficulties and questions.

Your Facilitators and Supervisors have deep experience working with your organisation, and using all the ideas covered in this programme - and they are also happy to help.  You can drop an email or a message (via your programme Dashboard) to us anytime.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I access a programme or course?

Your programme, course or module will be accessible to you for 1 year from the time you start it.

However in each lesson there are also PDFs, tools, products and exercises, that we think you will want to keep - you can download them, or print them.

You may also have an Alumni version of the programme to be transferred onto at the end of your specific 'cohort' programme.  If this is the case, you will have enduring access to all the materials via this product, for as long as your organisation is running the overall programme.

What if I fall behind and out of step with the programme timing?

All significant learning commitments require some dedication.  This means making conscious choices, and carving out the time to acquire, experiment with, and reflect on what you are exploring.  Sometimes, this is going to clash with other priorities and occasionally it might feel a little overwhelming - even for the most dedicated learner.  If you know that a busy period is coming up, plan for catch-up time in the weeks that follow.

You should plan, right from the start, to allow for between 1 and 3 hours per week (depending on your course intensity and structure) studying and then applying the ideas at work, to keep up.  Some people prefer 'binge-learning' (stacking it up and taking a whole day to sink into the module, but do it less regularly) and others like to do one or two hours each week.  Whatever your style is, we recommend that you book the time in your diary, and protect it when it comes under pressure.

Our client customised programmes usually mean you are following a routine - with new modules 'starting' at a given time, within a given cohort group.  This might tie in with Peer Support Group meetings, or workshops or webinars.  If this is the case for your programme, an important aspect is that you are not alone - but in a community of learners in your organisation.  The timings of 'live' experiences or group meetings are rarely changed once the programme starts, as this would impact negatively on your colleagues and co-learners.  Keeping up with others, so that you share your learning and benefit from their experience, is important.

If you have concerns about whether you will be able to do this, and if you fall behind at any time, just reach out to us and we will try to help.

Can I commission custom courses for my organisation?

Many of our programmes (like these for your organisation) have been originally developed especially for a client.  It is our clients around the world that 'pull' new content and commission what we go on to build, to meet their needs at any given time.

If you would like to either curate a custom programme from our existing stock, or you have an area of new content that you would like us to look at, just contact us and we can help.

What if I'm not satisfied with my course?

Our courses and materials are getting great feedback from users inside your organisation - but of course it might not suit exactly what you are looking for.

If you have any concerns or feedback, or you think you have been enrolled on the wrong course for you - please speak to us, or to your Learning Co-ordinator/HR person (whoever you would normally arrange these things with inside your company).

If you are registered and confirmed as a participant on this programme, then you are also already enrolled and can get started.

Click on the MENU button, and then follow through to your Dashboard.  You can launch your course from there.