News and Reviews

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Laing O’Rourke teams have completed four courses so far this year, following the recognition by bosses that Operation Teamleader really works. There was an interesting mix of colleagues, from site foremen and site agents to senior designers and office managers, and their different experiences and skills were evident in the practical aspects of the course. The main theme of all of the courses has been the importance of standing back as a leader, to allow you to take a helicopter view of the situation and direct the team to move forward efficiently.  The desire to ‘jump into the hole and show the lads how it’s done’ was strong, but by the end of the course everyone saw the  benefits of operating the InSpiral system of Leadership. Many of the participants were team leaders, whether on construction sites or in the office, and they left Operation Teamleader ready to inspire their teams with their new confidence and SAPTHA briefing skills.

Talbot Underwriting take their training very seriously, and that’s why they chose Operation Teamleader!  12 colleagues ventured from London to Brecon to take part in Talbot Underwriting’s first Operation Teamleader Transformational Experience (TXP). Congratulations to everyone on their hard work and excellent spirits during the three days; all participants were successful in passing the course, and thoroughly deserved their silver service dinner on the final evening.   Thanks to Sophie Dunkerley (abseiling below) for her delivery of ‘If’ during the dinner, and to all those who took part in the Mess Games afterwards! We look forward to welcoming the next team from Talbot Underwriting.

Hope you enjoy these Quad Biking photos from a recent Cambrian Quest weekend.

1. ‘I cannot think of a company sponsored course that even comes close to Operation Teamleader.  The staff proved invaluable and went to great lengths to provide outstanding training and support’
Doug Bell
Design Manager

2. ‘thank you to all the staff at Operation Teamleader…it was the most fun weekend I’ve had…when I first came to the course I felt nervous and did not have much confidence, but by the end of the second day my self confidence went up 100% which was down to you all…I will take what I’ve learned and will put it into practice and become a better leader’
Stuart Maddison
Foreman

3. ‘I have just given my first presentation since our course at the weekend and I must say it was extremely successful.  It  has given me the composure and confidence that is required to fulfil one of the main tasks that is required for me to carry out my job’
Perry Dale
Senior Project Manager

4. ‘This was one of the best courses I’ve been on and the feedback I have received since returning from those that attended has been excellent…What was extremely interesting were the changes in the individuals…their self-confidence increased and thought process became structured in a way that will bring clear benefits to the business’
Tony Matheson
Project Leader

5. ‘(these) comments are coming from a changed man…With no (prior) understanding of the event…my one thought was at least it will be a good piss-up.  I’m more than happy to say I was wrong, the event outlined my weakness as a manager and built my confidence through critical but very constructive feedback from the tutors. Ali and his team, what a bunch of the nicest guys I’ve ever had the pleasure of being tutored by.  I cannot state how high I regard the people at Operation Teamleader and the benefits I have received from the course’
Nick Parker
Design Manager

6. ‘sincere thanks…for the professional way (Operation Teamleader) looked after us all.  Their dedication, commitment and motivation was truly remarkable’
Conny Matera-Rogers
Head of Department

7. ‘every single one of my guys has reported back to me that this is the best course that they have ever attended – and believe me they’ve attended a few’
Iain Clifford
Procurement Leader

8. ‘thank you to everyone concerned.  I feel like a new man, inspired and motivated…one example of change would be that I have given a million inductions in my time for different companies but today was the first time that I actually enjoyed one.  I find myself standing back, delegating and planning almost automatically and it feels great’
Matt Dearman
Site Engineer

9. ‘the team have responded very well since the event…Our team meetings have changed significantly, we only record actions, and we have a round up summary of who is doing what before we leave…the team are very keen to see that I achieve the helicopter view…(the Chairman) is really keen to have some more events’
Julie Lynch
Director

10. ‘I had probably one of the best weekends of my life thanks to Operation Teamleader.  Ali and his troops were fantastic fun and great trainers. Words can’t describe how honoured I felt on Saturday evening having come through it.  The group didn’t want the weekend to end’
Andy Loughran
Site Manager

1. ‘This course was unlike any other course I’ve been on…It was great to see how people could develop in just 2 days. I myself could see improvements in my leadership and intend to incorporate this into my work…Ali had the room hanging on his every word…not only hugely entertaining, he captured the finer points of successful leadership perfectly. I would highly recommend the course to anyone’
Ashley Hill
Estimator

2. ‘This has been one of the most rewarding and informative training courses I have ever attended…My initial thoughts on attending (the event) was of not understanding what I would bring out of the course back to our contract in Yorkshire… (but) to be working with the military and the experience some of the leaders  had was an experience in itself.  Ali in my opinion portrayed a professional, fitting of an officer and a Gentleman, fully professional in his approach, his manner in which he dealt with his clients was exemplary…Throughout the course I watched the bonding and team-leadership develop…I feel that this course has made us all better people.’
Mike Grierson
Project Manager

3. ‘The trainers gained the respect of all the participants.  Congratulations on developing a truly outstanding course’
Ricky Rowe
Project Manager

4. ‘this was certainly the most benefiting course I have been on in my career’
Simon Hollands
Supervisor

5. ‘I would like to say that the team Ali has are very slick and efficient…this course has (made) me a more efficient manager…it really is outstanding’
Colin Davies
Supervisor

6. ‘Thank you for a most amazing and informative two days…This is the best course I’ve been on over the 22 years I’ve worked for Laing, which says a tremendous lot of thought has gone into this course – well done!’
Paul Ramshaw
Contracts Manager

7. ‘this was for sure the best work related course I have ever  been on, and I have certainly changed my outlook on life and more importantly my work life’
Andy Carter
Site Agent

8. ‘I would like to say how good I thought the Teamleader course was…I was a little bit apprehensive when I first knew about the course but as soon as I arrived…and realised what good tutors I had around me…I listened and learned a lot.  I feel that to have learned that much in the course of two days is incredible and would recommend it to anyone…because the benefits are outstanding’
James Bos
Supervisor

1. ‘thank you for a very enjoyable, challenging and rewarding weekend.  As last time, the organisation, health and safety and management by Operation Teamleader was excellent…I have noticed an improvement in the way we approach issues and the understanding of roles within our team / company. The weekend drew us together even more and also made us more understanding of each others capability and management style… (it) was good to be able to reflect on what went wrong and to easily learn from our mistakes and to improve on our weaknesses.  Turnover at Multikwik continues to grow…well into double figures…How much of this is down to the specific training is impossible to say but I believe it was money well spent.  It will be a challenge to improve on it next time’

Mr Aidan Salter
Managing Director
Multikwik Ltd

2. ‘I do believe the company has and will benefit from this training…it is the first course I have ever attended were I have seen people change their behaviour in less than two days’

Mr Mark Studholme
Managing Director
Farrer Consulting

3. The high level of self-confidence exuded by all those who have completed the course has particularly impressed me.  The strategy has proved to be very successful and I am delighted with the results’

Mr Jim Brown
Business Leader
Laing Utilities

1. ‘Operation Teamleader…is a big investment from our company. The business has made the commitment but it’s reaping dividends already…Ms Lake (Training and Development Manager) said she had a 25% improvement in performance among the staff who had been taught by (Operation Teamleader)’

Western Mail (Business Section)
24 May 2005

From Laing O’Rourke Press Release

2. ‘(Operation Teamleader) has been a huge success and the benefits substantial…in the way people were genuinely motivated through their improved awareness and practice of leadership skills’

‘Update’ Laing Utilities newsletter
October 2004

Ms Mel Lake
Training and Development Manager
Laing Utilities

3. ‘‘If Carlsberg ran a training course, then this would be it’’

‘Update’ Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure newsletter
August 2005

Comment from:
Mr Tony Matheson
Project Leader
Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure

4. ‘the course was designed to imbed (the) lessons within the context of a memorable adventure, thus helping to lodge what we had learned more firmly within our minds. I can tell you that this works!…what I think we all gained from this experience was a greater belief in ourselves. Confidence that we, as individuals, are capable of much more than we might previously have supposed…I would whole-heartedly recommend it to any lucky souls who have the opportunity to participate in the future’

Xchanging internal newsletter
December 2005

Mr Byron Hunte
Customer Relationship Manager
Xchanging

5. ‘the leadership development weekends…helped develop a deeper understanding and bonding between managers, whilst identifying individual strengths and weaknesses and assisting in the improvement of perceived deficiencies… it is likely that improvements in management and personal skills of certain key staff have assisted in the Company enjoying a record profit in 2002, achieving double that recorded in 2001. The intuition, mutual respect and camaraderie developed on the training weekends would undoubtedly have assisted in the many high pressure business situations which face the company from time to time’

Draft of conference presentation
University of Wales, Lampeter
November 2002

Mr Nigel Williams
Finance Director
Castell Howell Foods Ltd

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