Tony Lally, Chief Executive Officer of Sunsuper, challenged his leadership teams back in February this year, at the launch of the new leadership development programs for Sunsuper, an organisation that over the past 20 years has grown to be one of Australia’s largest industry superannuation funds, with assets of $16 billion and over one million members as at September 2009. Sunsuper’s vision, strategy and values start with the leaders and in Tony’s view they are cascaded down the organisation and picked up by leaders at each of the levels, who in turn share it with the team. He encourages his leaders to consider which part of the strategy they can implement and make a contribution to in order to enhance their member’s experience. It’s all about giving each participant the skills and resources, and the empowerment to go and implement the strategy and to make decisions in the best interest of the member experience.
A Coaching Approach to Leadership
Through leaders taking a coaching approach and asking coaching questions they allow their people to find their own answers and solutions based on the strategic vision of the organisation and to be empowered to go and make decisions. Cascading down the member values and behaviours requires support and next month over 40 leaders will graduate from the The Essential Leaders Program targeted at team leaders and The Business Leadership Program targeted at business leaders. They, along with 22 other quality coaches will achieve a government-accredited qualifications. Each of the programs introduces coaching skills into the language of leadership, including many of the tools featured in this book. The programs are the vision of Learning and Development Team Manager, Leisa Bowness and her team. The team worked on the detailed implementation, including the course materials in partnership with Open Door Coaching.
Strategic Vision
The entire program is linked to the strategic vision of the organisation and to the leadership development competencies and capability frameworks. The team has focused on getting senior business people, including their peers from Human Resources, involved to customise the program and to include their input via keynote presentations. Sunsuper has recently amalgamated with its Administration company and this brings challenges as the merged companies come to work together to deliver member benefits. The ultimate aim of the program is to promote cultural change within the organisation and to bring the organisation together under the one leadership strategy and vision.
