Threshold

Business heads in this global IT consultancy manage portfolios as large as mid-sized businesses. 

• What does it mean to transition from the head of a unit to a CEO of a small business, at a mindset level? 

• What shift does it require in the ways of being, thinking and doing? How does one enable such a mindset and behaviour change?

Approach

To understand the client's context, TAO conducted a culture study to identify key behaviours needed for members at this threshold. This involved in-depth conversations with Business Group heads and the L&D team. Based on this inquiry, a leadership program was designed, pilot-tested and rolled out.

The leadership journey consists of three phases: pre-engagement, an intensive five-day workshop, and post-intervention support through group coaching and an alumni community. The program builds alignment at three levels—self, role, and system. Personal alignment ignites a journey of inner change by working with emotions, archetypal inner voices, and connecting with one's personal dream. Role alignment involves reviewing the roles one takes and shapes in various contexts and the core drivers behind them. The idea is to enable conscious and courageous choice-making based on one's behavioural propensities and awaken one's heroic potential. Alignment at systemic level involves getting into the shoes of various stakeholders, both external and internal, starting with the customer. This enables identifying systemic tensions between voices of various stakeholders that can serve as a fuel for change.

The program culminates in a behavioural action plan supported by a self-commitment to consistent practice. Group coaching post-program supports participants contextualise the learnings to their specific situations.

Impact

Since its inception in 2006, the program has run continuously for nearly two decades, evolving to meet the changing business context. Throughout this period, over 4,000 leaders have participated across 125 batches, making it one of the organisation's longest-running programs across countries.

Building on this success, the client requested a similar program for early-career managers. Over 8,000 participants across 75 batches have participated in the past five years.