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The challenge
Cisco was transitioning from a hardware company into a software and solutions leader. It needed exceptional technical leaders to navigate its rapidly changing environment. These leaders needed to translate new technologies and the opportunities they offer into real solutions that meet changing customer needs. To do this, they needed to be able to marshal Cisco’s considerable collective capability into developing market-leading initiatives. The Global Technical Leader Program (GTLP) was designed to meet this need, developing the ability of Cisco’s technical talent to collaborate across the organisation and deliver on Cisco’s strategy.
The solution
The Global Technical Leader Program (GTLP) spanned three months and covered self-awareness, influencing, coaching, business communications, innovation, and business case development. It was delivered in a mix of face-to-face workshops, virtual sessions and group project work to optimise the application of learning and embed new leadership behaviours.
An action learning project required participants to work on real business case projects. Project teams, consisting of six cross-functional technical leaders, applied the skills learned in the workshops to research and develop a business case. At the end of the three-month period, they presented their case to a panel of vice-president-level CTOs and executive senior technical leaders.
The Impact
Participants attribute a 15.3% average performance improvement to the program, and 91% of them agree that the program was a worthwhile investment in their leadership development. They rate greater collaboration, strengthened stakeholder relationships, increased team engagement, and better work efficiency as some of the strongest business outcomes from the program.
High Performance Teams
Highly effective, connected teams directly impact the experience of work and are essential to business success.
Executive Leaders
A leaders' ability to take a system wide perspective, building for the long term whilst balancing performance with business transformation is critical at the executive level.
Leaders of Leaders
Making the transition from leader of individual contributors to leader of leaders is a significant step. Prepare your leaders with new perspectives and skills to lead at a function level.
Team Leaders
Every team needs a great leader, with the ability to create an environment that fosters psychological safety, motivation and high performance.