I’ve worked with the Frogs for more than 10 years of my career now. It has been a joyful and satisfying ride.
It started at Staples (now winc), where it was a collective belief that the quality of our leaders was key to our commercial success (made my job easier!). So, as National Organisational Development Manager, I got to work building the best Leadership Development Program (LDP) to serve our high calibre people. Vibrant Frog were our go-to partners – they designed, facilitated, and adapted our LDPs over 7 years. And over time, they worked with easily more than 150 of our people, many of whom they are still in contact with (they do that – they make an impression and friends along the way).
All our ‘next level’ leaders (below our Exec Leaders) completed our LDP – it moved from a challenging 3-day workshop series to a 4 day series over time. It was designed specifically to build skill, to deliver on our strategy, and strengthen relationships between leaders across the business. (Just like any business, we had plenty of missed opportunities due to silos.). And it wasn’t without its shifting sands – acquisition of the business and numerous restructures happened along the way. Something the Frogs are brilliant at is navigating that organisational context and skilfully supporting our leaders to be their best, despite the circumstances.
They don’t brush over the systemic challenges, more so they allow leaders to explore them and take responsibility for their part in improving the environment they work within.
Our LDPs were always gratefully received, talked about for years afterwards, and made a considerable difference to how leaders worked within their teams and across the business – just ask them. Many remember the actor simulations vividly and comment on how this experience within the LDP was a game-changer. Also, the flexibility that the Frogs exhibited in response to our needs was considerable – in logistics and content.
Next, we focused on our high-potential leaders – those who would take on next-level responsibilities in the coming years. Since we already had an experience of the Frog and their power in achieving measurable leadership growth, we went for their renowned multi-business personal and professional development program Action on Purpose (‘AOP’). AOP gave our leaders high-quality support as they took on more leadership responsibility through its 10 weekly sessions, in small groups. Here they were able to reflect, plan and hone their skills, supported by 1:1 Frog coaching. We ‘gifted’ leaders the program (typically 2 or 3 leaders at the same time). We found they strengthened their internal ‘Staples’ bonds and gained an external perspective from their fellow participants in different organisations and roles. This expansive experience was reportedly invaluable to their leadership growth.
Over the years I was in this role at Staples, everyone fortunate enough to complete the AOP program offered hugely positive feedback, many commenting on its significant life-changing impact.
I did it myself – it came at exactly the right time for me, and the lessons have stuck with me ever since.
I put the program’s success on both the quality of its design and content, and the obvious skill of the facilitators. It became sought after within the business (“when can I do AOP?!”) – we developed a long waiting list! The overwhelming sentiment was that AOP supported people’s professional and personal growth, and that this was unusual, potent and appreciated.
If you want a successful leadership development reputation in your organisation, call the Frogs – now.
Author: Nichol Hildebrand, then National Organisational Development Manager @ winc (now Senior Principal, Korn Ferry)
Author: Alison West