Experienced managers can benefit from tailor-made training courses says Aline Beresford

All companies recognise the need to provide training to equip managers with the key leadership tools needed to coach, motivate and lead their staff to run their businesses more efficiently and effectively. It’s a simple process – all it requires is to book a meeting room, block out the time in everyone’s diaries, and invite a management training company to come and run a course. This wholesale approach means the entire department can be kitted out with the same skill-set all at the same time and, indeed, this may be a cost-effective option.

But not all companies have sufficient numbers of staff to make this practical or financially viable, and even for those companies which do, with today’s increased focus on individually tailored personal development plans, can a “one-size fits all” training programme really fit the 21st century bill?

The findings of research conducted by The British Healthcare Intelligence Association (BHBIA) in 2005, suggested that its members (and potential members) perceived that there was a gap in training at the more senior levels. There was also an interest in shorter courses, as opposed to traditional residential programmes requiring several days away from the office.

The organisation had previously focused most of its training effort on providing a basic grounding in core job skills and knowledge, for more junior staff, but in the light of its research, it has now put together a new programme of one-day management training courses aimed at intermediate and senior levels.

There are a number of benefits to a training programme run by a central organisation. First, attendees are taken out of the comfort zone of their usual work environment. This encourages them to take a fresh approach, and removes the temptation to nip back to their desks to deal with email inboxes and voicemail messages every time there is a coffee break.

Second, at most there will only be one or two people from the same company on any given training course, so office politics and parochial issues do not get in the way of the key learning objectives. For example, if someone has a management issue involving a colleague, they will be able to role-play that scenario within a group of people who, with no personal  interest in the situation, may be able to bring a fresh viewpoint to the search for a solution.

But, perhaps most importantly, there is an opportunity for those on the course to meet with their peers from across the same industry and to share common issues and ideas. An external course run by a management training company, which does not specialise in any particular industry, might not offer as much opportunity to mix with others in similar roles.

In addition, in the case of an organisation such as the BHBIA, there is a particular benefit in that delegates will be drawn from both companies and agencies – allowing an exploration of issues that relate to how the client-supplier relationship is managed, as well as those concerning the management of internal staff.

The courses, which are organised by the BHBIA are run by professional management trainers and as they have a one-day format, time out of the office is  reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, there is scope to tailor the courses to suit the delegates as the numbers attending each course are limited.

With the exception of the ‘Leadership and Motivation’ course (which requires management experience), attendees do not  need to be in a line-management role as the skills learned are just as relevant when seeking to influence colleagues in their own and other internal departments, as well as external organisations.

And although the courses are provided in response to a need expressed by BHBIA members, they are not specific to business intelligence and therefore suitable for a broad cross-section of those working in the healthcare industry.

It is intended that, in the future, the programme will evolve and expand, in response to feedback from delegates and suggestions from BHBIA members and other interested parties.

BHBIA courses for 2006 and 2007

The BHBIA’s Management Training Programme is a series of one-day workshops, which are held at the ABPI Offices in Whitehall, London

Courses for the rest of 2006:
• Mentoring and Coaching Skills – 28 September
• NHS Update – 9 November
• Leadership and Motivation – 30 November
• NHS Update – 9 November
Courses for 2007:
• NHS Update – 24 May
• Influencing and Making an Impact – 19 July
• Mentoring and Coaching Skills – September
• NHS Update – 18 October
• Leadership and Motivation – 29 November

For full details of these courses and booking information, visit www.bhbia.org.uk

About the BHBIA

The British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association aims to promote and enhance the professionalism and value of business intelligence within the healthcare industry.  

The BHBIA is a non-profit organisation that represents pharmaceutical companies in the UK, independent organisations and individuals that provide business intelligence or consultancy services to the pharmaceutical industry.

Courses aim to educate delegates about the different types of marketing and sales research, and provide them with advice regarding best practice and management issues.  

For more information on the BHBIA  and its courses, visit www.bhbia.org.uk