Dr Chris Thomas, Director, Milton Contact Limited
Forty six delegates, predominantly managers and directors from thirty seven companies in Cambridgeshire, met on Monday 10th July, 2006 at the Hi-Tech location of the Babraham Research Campus. Dale Carnegie, an internationally renowned training company, had partnered with Babraham Bioscience Technologies to run an entertaining and informative Leadership Workshop for Cambridgeshire companies.
The event began with a half hour networking session, facilitated by consummate networking aficionados from the Huntingdonshire Business Network, who happened to be amongst the delegates, ensuring a rising hubbub of conversation as participants from both the biotech and other businesses mingled.
Dr David Hardman, CEO of Babraham Bioscience Technologies, then gave a fifteen minute presentation highlighting the unique philosophy and future of the Babraham Research Campus as a “Bioincubator” , where a world class research base and early stage healthcare were brought together. Babraham uniquely provides additional assistance to fledgling companies with common services and facilities as well as accommodation and a centre for seminars and conferences.
The high attendance at the event reflected the appreciation that management and leadership skills are vital elements to secure the future of any company’s people, performance and profits. It was therefore an expectant audience that awaited the Workshop.
Ed Carter of Dale Carnegie ran a two hour session on key leadership elements with enthusiasm and audience participation. Dale Carnegie practitioners have to annually reappraise their skills and knowledge to ensure the internationally recognised high standard of presentation and content. Using a repertoire of his own experiences from several decades of running a successful business and finding common ground with the audience, the elements Ed covered included tools for time management, the importance of diversity and communication as well as stress management.
Delegates effortlessly memorised 12 of the leadership principles and each individual came away with at least one practical tip, technique or insight that they could apply immediately upon return to their own companies. For many it was the simple prioritisation grid to assort tasks into various categories of urgency and importance – a good manager being one who concentrated on ensuring that the “important but not urgent tasks” were tackled, before they became Urgent items. For others it was the appreciation of diversity in teams and recognising the positive contributions different personality types could bring if consciously employed.
Positive feedback on both the enjoyment and benefit of the session was exceptionally high (close to 100%).
The morning ended with more networking over a welcome coffee and a gradual parting of the ways.
Useful Contacts and Addresses
Dr Chris Thomas, Dale Carnegie Training for people, performance, profits
Tel:
http://www.centralengland.dalecarnegie.com
The Babraham Research Campus
http://www.babraham.co.uk/brc.html
The Huntingdonshire Business Network