The OPTIMUM Programme
Unlocking the potential of your full leadership team
If you want your Leadership Team to…
- Move from merely being a ‘working group’ to a High Performing Team
Adopt a solution focused mindset based on being truly in this together
Build real trust with each other around a shared common purpose
Lead and manage change and strategic planning effectively
Have the breakthrough conversations that matter
Have a positive impact on the teaching and learning experience in your school
Origins of the OPTIMUM programme
Curam.ie was asked to develop a unique programme in 2020 to work with leadership teams using an innovative, practical and impactful approach.
The challenge set for us was:
‘It needs to be raw & real – to truly make THE difference in how we lead’
‘To bring life to LAOS and so much more’
Now we have a tried and tested programme developed BY AP’s, deputy principals and principals FOR AP’s, deputy principals and principals. It draws on the proven skills, mindsets and approaches from national and international experience across a range of contexts, not just education . . .
It asks a lot & delivers a lot…
Are you ambitious for your Leadership Team?
By building a highly effective team, imagine the . . .
innovation and solutions that would emerge
team spirit and goodwill that would be engendered
constructive mindsets that will deliver for the whole school community
conflicts that would be resolved healthily
effective collaboration that would become normal
modelling of team approaches across the life of the school
Unlocking the potential of your full leadership team
Pillar 1
Identifying team leadership strengths, challenges & issues
Emotional Intelligence-understanding self
Self awareness – what are your blind spots?
- Understanding different behaviours
- From difficult conversations to breakthrough conversations
- Listening is your superpower
Learnings from other schools
Application in your school team
Learnings from other schools
Case-studies, common scenarios
LAOS in our leadership
Actions to take before next session
Pillar 2
Teams – how they work & become high performing
Trust – the essential ingredient
Leadership styles that motivate, inspire and empower
Influencing skills
Conflict Clinic – your scenarios addressed
Listening & responding to the needs of the school community
Time Management – making it work for you
Roles & responsibilities in a collaborative team
Working with different personality types
Behaviours that help and dealing with behaviours that hinder effective team working
Pillar 3
Leadership mindset – leading with, leading for – leading together
Managing change – spend less time on resistance & more on innovation
Coaching each other – how this can transform your leadership
Breakthrough conversations – dealing with the real issues
Meetings that matter – tips, tools & approaches
Collaborate – the anatomy of shared leadership
Constructive accountability to each other
Creating your OPTIMUM PLAN for your team – the why, the what, the who & the where
This plan is about sustaining the learning and the actions of the programme into the future
Pillar 4
Consultancy on your OPTIMUM PLAN – each school is given honest & constructive feedback on their OPTIMUM PLAN
Whole school implications – bringing everyone along with us
Scenario planning for what could hijack our plan
Revisiting our opening agenda – what else needs addressing
Sustaining our development – building our Working Agreement
Staying in connection – creating an effective network for our leadership teams
Capstone session – celebrating our process, sharing our commitments
How it works – a mix of in-person, in school & live online
Six school leadership teams – up to 8 participants per school
One full day in person at the outset and a final half day in person at the conclusion with all teams
Two live online sessions with all teams together
Each school team gets a confidential session with the facilitators during the programme
Dedicated online portal for resources & networking
In-school leadership team review and reflective meetings
Lead facilitators Tony Lee and Luke Monahan with a team of practitioners
Programme Manager to oversee the practical elements
CPD Certificate & digital OPTIMUM Programme badge
Investment
€5,850 per school team (€5,150 DEIS schools)
Places Available
Only 6 school teams per programme (up to 8 per team)
Next Programme
Autumn 2024
An excellent programme with inspiring facilitators. Linking with LAOS and so much more – leadership skills & mindsets to lead with others
This programme is of huge importance – very informative & practical – school focused & realistic – school leadership teams really are looking for this support
Very engaging, really impressive in fact. My concentration never wandered and I didn’t want to miss a minute.
Thought the course was brilliant, the great dynamic between Luke and the participants was excellent.
10/10, Excellent, very interactive, informative, respectful and fun.
Facilitators
Luke Monahan and Tony Lee are the lead facilitators – they have worked with hundreds of schools across all sectors in leadership development. Tony has held a variety of leadership roles as well as a key role in the Le Cheile Schools Trust. Luke whose background and experience is in schools, is also a sought after facilitator in change management, conflict resolution & team dynamics in a wide range of organisational settings. He is author of The Year Head – Resourcing & Developing the Role.
Tony and Luke will be supported by a range of practitioners in the field including some who have already been part of this programme.
