The CAA experienced a step-change in leadership capability with participants reporting remarkable improvements in their ability to deliver projects, handle difficult situations and manage relationships.

The brief:

The aviation regulator has a proud record of keeping flying safe and protecting consumers. But it knew that it had to change to truly fulfil its purpose of putting consumers and the public at the heart of everything that it does. The Mind at Work was invited to help the CAA grow its leadership capability by equipping senior managers to lead a major transformation programme and modernise working practises throughout the organisation. 

What we did:

We interviewed and spoke to colleagues across the CAA to really get under the skin of the organisation and understand what made it tick. The output from this diagnostic provided crucial data during our partnership with the leadership team as we worked in collaboration to design practical tools to transform the culture. These tools were developed with specific objectives to improve accountability, engagement and problem solving. We trained more than 100 senior leaders on how to use them, underpinned by an even more important skill: enabling them to notice and manage their own attitudes and so transform their behaviour. 

Outcomes:

The CAA has experienced a step-change in leadership capability. Participants reported remarkable improvements in their ability to deliver projects, handle difficult situations and manage relationships. We continue to partner the CAA and have evolved our programme to include a programme for the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group (SARG). This new programme has been developed to support SARG managers and principals to hold better conversations that will ultimately improve safety outcomes aligned with SARG’s transformation to promote a culture where all levels work together for the purpose of saving lives.

The programme makes a difference to me every single day. I have undertaken leadership and management training in the military, government and commercial sector. This was a step up from anything that I have been involved with before.

Andy Sinclair – Senior Manager, CAA