What makes a great leader? Is it an attribute that someone is born with, or something you learn over time? That was the question we found ourselves asking when looking at how we could better support career progression within the residential surveying industry.
Working remotely, many of our surveyors don’t have regular day-to-day contact with line managers or senior colleagues. That can make it harder for them to see what leadership actually looks like in practice. And if we’re not giving people the chance to experience leadership or step into those roles gradually, how can we expect them to be ready when the opportunity arises?
That’s why we created our leadership development programme.
It all starts with a development day. This is open to anyone interested in stepping up and gives us a chance to understand the person behind the job title. The day includes a mix of group survival activities, presentation work and puzzle-solving. We get to see how people react under pressure, where their strengths lie, how they work with others and what might hold them back. It gives us a more rounded view than any CV or performance review ever could.
It’s not about whether someone is good at their day job, it’s about whether they have the raw attributes to make the move into leadership. A move that requires a very different skill set.
From there, those who show potential are given a personalised development plan and matched with a mentor. Over the following year, they take on a range of tasks and projects that introduce them to management responsibilities. That might include running team meetings, taking part in internal working groups, or supporting recruitment.
By the end of that period, those who have shown growth and commitment are invited to move onto the full leadership development programme, the next step on their career path.
The programme isn’t just a series of training sessions. It’s designed to challenge people, push them outside their comfort zones and help them learn fast. We know that real development comes from being stretched. While the programme is supportive, it also encourages participants to think differently, deal with uncertainty and reflect on their own behaviours and mindset.
Partnering with Weston College enabled us to create an environment where those taking part in the programme can really test and build skills, with the right balance of support and challenge.
For us, leadership is about unlocking someone’s potential and giving them the tools and opportunities to grow. With the right support, great leaders don’t have to be born, they can be developed. And within residential surveying, we believe there’s huge untapped potential just waiting to be found, supported, and brought to life.
