Who is it for?

HR directors, development specialists and those responsible for the career planning and development of technical and functional specialists.

Overview

Many professionals attain a qualification and level of proficiency in their own field but advancement or development often requires the acquisition of managerial or business skills which are significantly different to those of their initial professions. This can create tension and conflict around the desire for advancement, the need to learn in unfamiliar territory, subsequent job satisfaction and an individual’s suitability for movement into a different role. This workshop will look at methods of selecting for enhanced roles, new skills and knowledge required and methods of on-going development.

Content

Firms in financial services, legal practices and technical fields will help review current activities and identify the principles of good practice.

Wanda Wallace will work with a small group of firms to compare and contrast the learning process followed for professional qualifications with those required for managerial or commercial roles.  Examples of successful transition will be identified, together with an assessment of what might work well – and under what circumstances.

Case studies will come from major organisations who will describe how they develop specialists, their assessed success levels, the problems they have encountered and the lessons learned.

A short research report will be produced by Dr Wallace with Gillian Pillans.

Report Author:

Gillian Pillans has worked as a senior HR practitioner and OD specialist for a number of organisations including Swiss Re, Vodafone and BAA. Prior to her HR career, she was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting. She is also a qualified solicitor and has recently advised on several high value discrimination claims.