Tag Archive for: Operational Excellence

Overcoming Management Hurdles: From Fixing Points to Managing Patterns for Operational Success with QBS’s Competency-Based Program

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Janet Robinson (client) – Testimonial

Before engaging with QBS, our organisation had been grappling with process improvement efforts that were arduous and lacking in results. Projects often encountered roadblocks, got stuck, or were ultimately canceled. As we delved deeper into these projects, we discovered that the issues we were facing were fundamental management problems. Our people lacked the necessary training, processes were undefined or undocumented, and expectations were unclear. We were tackling these challenges in isolation, without a comprehensive approach. Furthermore, many of our leaders lacked a basic understanding of process thinking.

Our primary goal was to enhance our leaders’ operations management skills, enabling us to efficiently address the issues we were encountering and ensure proper management of our teams.

Already tried many programs

In our quest to solve these challenges, we had implemented various leadership training programs. However, these programs did not cover the specific areas we needed to address, nor did they adopt the 70/20/10 approach, which emphasises real-life application. We also experimented with lean six sigma training, but it remained narrowly focused on solving specific problems rather than equipping leaders to effectively run their teams and solve systemic issues.

QBS worked with us to provide a competency-based program solution, which required our leaders to demonstrate the application of their learnings. The program underwent a pilot phase and was subsequently rolled out on a broader scale.  QBS subsequently worked with us to introduce two further programs—one tailored for our senior leaders who were feeling left out and another for our lower-level team leaders.

70/20/10 approach

Some key takeaways and learnings we gained from the program included the effectiveness of the 70/20/10 approach and the significance of leadership support, reporting, and participant accountability. Integrating program participation into individual development plans (IDPs) and scorecards ensured a higher level of commitment. We also realised that central funding, while convenient, could lead to reduced accountability as it was not directly tied to individual budgets. Selecting the right participants was crucial, not merely choosing individuals based on availability or their desire for a qualification. It was important to identify individuals in suitably sised roles, especially at the program’s inception. Additionally, we discovered that the impacts of the program were amplified when peers and colleagues participated together. Overcoming the misconception that operational management did not apply to certain individuals was also a challenge we had to address.

Complementary fit

To embark on this transformative journey, we had to secure funding and demonstrate the program’s benefits to ensure continued support. Initially, we did not involve the Learning and Development (L&D) teams, as the program was business-funded. Eventually, the program transitioned to L&D, and there was some work to do regarding its positioning among other soft skills leadership programs.  They were completely complementary.

Remarkable blend of skills

Over 10 years, we had 68 groups from all over the business do the core program leading to 470 graduates – it was our longest, continuously running leadership program. We celebrated our graduates at formal recognition ceremonies – the confidence and pride observed in our graduates was immense, as were the accolades from their leaders.  We confidently observed an average of $120,000 annual benefit per graduate.   I wholeheartedly recommend QBS due to their dependability, skilfulness with relating the concepts to any functional area and their ability to deliver results. They possess a remarkable blend of operational management expertise, insight and L&D capability, enabling them to design and deliver high-impact programs that drive meaningful change within organisations.

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Thinking Differently: Putting Customers First, Breaking Silos & Efficiency Fast Tracks

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I bet it wouldn’t take more than a few minutes for you to search your mind for a recent example of frustrations due to siloed business operations or failure to collaborate between departments. 

I also bet if you are reading this blog, you are the person who thinks differently in your organisation! You’re the one who can see the collective potential of your organisation if only there was a way to leverage it – right?

You’ve seen the red lights on the dashboard, customer complaints increasing, negative feedback, and the delicate balance between satisfied and unsatisfied customers begins to tip in the wrong direction. The drive to do more with less, while initially appealing, can have unintended consequences that compromise overall performance and efficiency.

Is it time to “Think Differently”?

Let’s address the root causes of these frustrations and explore the power of thinking differently, by embracing collaborative systems thinking, critical thinking, and outside-in thinking. But only if you’re ready to unlock transformative solutions, enhance customer satisfaction, AND achieve sustainable growth.

Collaborative Systems Thinking: Breaking Down Silos for Synergy

In the quest for efficiency and effectiveness, organisations often find themselves working in silos where departments operate independently and fail to communicate and collaborate effectively. This siloed approach leads to duplication, inefficiency, and wasted resources. Collaborative systems thinking provides the answer by recognising that no single part of a business is more important than another. It emphasises the interconnectedness of different teams and functions and encourages open, transparent conversations. By proactively managing dependencies and fostering dialogue, your organisation can eliminate silos, harness the power of synergy, and drive collective success too!

Critical Thinking: Unleashing the Power of Analysis and Reasoning

To navigate complex business challenges, leaders need more than cookie-cutter solutions and superficial analysis. Critical thinking offers a disciplined process of actively questioning, analysing, interpreting, synthesising, and evaluating information. It goes beyond mere surface-level assessments and embraces intellectual values such as clarity, accuracy, precision, and sound evidence. By taking the time to evaluate information, test assumptions, and draw informed inferences, leaders can make more informed decisions, identify underlying issues, and uncover innovative solutions. Critical thinking acts as a “bullshit detector” and enables leaders to approach challenges with a reasoned and thoughtful mindset.

Outside-In Thinking: Prioritising Customers and Holistic Impact

A customer-centric approach is paramount in today’s business landscape. Outside-in thinking encourages leaders to prioritise customer satisfaction while considering the impact on other areas of their business. By adopting systems thinking, leaders can analyse and understand the upstream and downstream dependencies that influence customer experiences. It involves viewing the organisation from the outside, gaining insights into customer needs, and aligning internal processes and functions to meet those needs. Outside-in thinking ensures that decisions are made with a holistic perspective, leading to sustainable growth and customer loyalty.

Conclusion

To overcome the frustrations and challenges faced by organisations, it’s essential to embrace a new way of thinking. Collaborative systems thinking breaks down silos, fosters collaboration, and maximises the potential of teams working together. Critical thinking empowers leaders to analyse and reason, enabling them to make informed decisions and uncover innovative solutions. Outside-in thinking ensures a customer-centric approach, aligning internal processes with customer needs for sustainable growth. By adopting these different thinking approaches, organisations can transform their operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve long-term success in a rapidly changing business landscape. It’s time to think differently and unleash the full potential of your organisation.

If you’re ready to advocate for some different thinking in your organisation, book a call with us to chat about your unique business situation, and how we might be able to help with one of our operational excellence programs.

Core Operational Excellence - Leadership Training Program with QBS, MelbourneQuality Business Services

Leveraging the 70/20/10 Learning Model for Organisational Success: QBS’s Proven Approach

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The world of professional development is evolving, and in the heart of this change lies the transformative 70/20/10 learning model. As more businesses appreciate the impact of continued learning on their success, this framework is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of effective training programs. At QBS, we’ve adopted this dynamic model to craft training experiences that not only equip participants with knowledge but also mould them into efficient, forward-thinking leaders. We do this by leveraging the 70/20/10 learning model in our Core Operational Excellence and Introductory Operational Excellence leadership programs

The Learning Model Revolutionising Business Training

At its core, the 70/20/10 model is a blend of experiential, social, and formal learning. It proposes that 70% of knowledge comes from on-the-job experiences, 20% from interactions with others, and 10% from formal educational events. This strategy reflects how we naturally learn and allows learners to integrate new knowledge with their personal experiences. Whether it’s a critical decision at work or a stimulating conversation with a colleague, the 70/20/10 model considers every interaction a learning opportunity.

Empowering Individuals and Organisations: The Wide-Ranging Benefits of the 70/20/10 Model

The 70/20/10 model, when used correctly, has a multitude of benefits:

Personal Growth and Career Advancement

Through the 70/20/10 model, individuals experience holistic development. They cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills via experiential learning, enhance their communication and interpersonal abilities through social interactions, and expand their knowledge base via formal education. This multifaceted approach fosters well-rounded professionals ready to lead in the modern business landscape.

Propelling Organisational Success

For Australian organisations, this model is a blueprint for cultivating a robust learning culture. By focusing on real-world experiences and peer interactions, it boosts team collaboration, enhances adaptability, and promotes innovation. In essence, the 70/20/10 model helps businesses build a workforce capable of steering the organisation towards enduring success.

Graduates of the Core Operational Excellence program by QBS which leverages the 70/20/10 learning model for organisational success.

Graduates of the Core Operational Excellence program by QBS which leverages the 70/20/10 learning model for organisational success.

QBS’s Take on the 70/20/10 Model: An Approach Tailored for Transformation

At QBS, we’ve refined the 70/20/10 model to align with our commitment to fostering proactive and disciplined leaders. Our programs begin with logically sequenced workshops – providing the formal education (10%). Each is followed by focused on-the-job application with peer and coach interactions (70% and 20% respectively). This structure ensures that our learners not only understand the principles of operational excellence but can also apply them in real-world contexts.

To further bolster this learning, we provide individual coaching and performance assessment. This ongoing support helps learners consolidate their knowledge, enhance their skills, and progress confidently towards their leadership goals.

Embrace the Future of Learning with the 70/20/10 Model

The 70/20/10 model is more than a learning framework—it’s a strategy for personal growth and organisational success. By aligning learning with our natural cognitive processes, it ensures knowledge retention, skill development, and the cultivation of innovative, proactive leaders.

At QBS, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of this model firsthand. We invite you to experience this dynamic learning approach, revolutionise your leadership development, and propel your organisation towards new horizons of success.

Join QBS’s Leadership Revolution Today

If you’re ready to experience the game-changing impact of the 70/20/10 model, it’s time to explore QBS’s range of programs for operational excellence. Your journey towards leadership excellence begins with QBS!

Explore Our Programs

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Nose in, Fingers Out: Liberating Leaders from Micromanagement

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Unleash Your Leadership Potential and Embrace Operational Excellence.

Imagine a workplace where leaders trust their teams, focus on strategic goals, and anticipate and prevent issues before they even arise. A place where employees are empowered, engaged, and motivated to deliver their best. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s time to turn that dream into a reality.

Micromanagement has long been the bane of effective leadership. It stifles innovation, demoralises employees, and hampers growth. I want to explore the transformative power of liberating leaders from the micromanagement trap. Say goodbye to the shackles of control and hello to a new era of leadership excellence.

Breaking Free from the Micromanagement Trap

A few years ago, I had a fascinating exchange with an experienced leader who managed multiple teams. We discussed the amount of time he spent working in the here and now—responding to urgent questions and customer issues. His estimate? A staggering 90%! Unfortunately, this is not uncommon among leaders.

But let’s challenge this notion. Who is responsible for ensuring teams have the processes in place to meet customer needs without issues or complaints? By focusing on prevention rather than firefighting, leaders can truly be customer-focused. It’s time to ask the customer what they value most—fixing issues or preventing them?

Shifting Mindsets and Embracing Operational Excellence

To break free from the micromanagement trap, leaders need to shift their focus from working in the business to working on the business. This means empowering, delegating, and trusting their teams—an essential step toward improving employee engagement.

Instead of reacting to individual problems, leaders should manage the patterns and study repeat issues to learn from them. This is where systems thinking comes into play—a fundamental aspect of business improvement. It’s time to stop blaming individuals for poor performance. After all, they did not design the ecosystem. With the right mindset, leaders can anticipate and prevent issues, ultimately improving customer satisfaction.

Embracing Discomfort and Learning from Mistakes

Change is uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for growth. The best learning comes through hands-on experience, making mistakes, and reflecting on them to make adjustments for the future. Even when things go right, reflecting on why they worked is also a valuable learning opportunity.

Leaders must trust their teams, ask better questions, and let go of day-to-day control. It’s time for leaders to have their noses in the business, shaping the future, while keeping their fingers out of the minute details. This shift will unleash the full potential of both leaders and their teams.

Leaders of the world, it’s time to unleash your inner maverick and break free from the micromanagement trap. By shifting perspectives, embracing operational excellence, and building a culture of trust and empowerment, you’ll embark on a journey of transformation that leads to enhanced customer satisfaction and business success. Embrace discomfort, learn from mistakes, and watch as your leaders thrive, turning KPIs around and shaping a brighter future.

To kickstart your journey towards leadership liberation, we have a special tool just for you. Download our exclusive Leadership Skills Audit and assess your team’s current leadership style. Discover areas for growth and opportunities to enhance their leadership effectiveness. This powerful resource will guide you in unlocking your team’s full potential as leaders.

Download the Leadership Skills Audit and let’s get you liberating some leaders!

 

The Foundation of Success: Unraveling the DNA of Leadership Essentials - Quality Business Services, MelbourneQuality Business Services

The Foundation of Success: Unraveling the DNA of Leadership Essentials

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An organisation’s success is no happy accident. It’s a masterpiece crafted meticulously by skilled artisans known as leaders. Just as DNA forms the blueprint for every living organism, specific traits form the genetic code of effective leadership. In our quest to explore these leadership essentials, we will delve into the seven core elements that can potentially metamorphose an organisation from mediocre to magnificent.

1. The Lighthouse: Vision

Every remarkable journey begins with a well-defined destination. For leaders, this translates into a compelling vision – a beacon of light guiding the organisation towards its desired future. More than just a fancy statement, it is the inspiring picture of possibilities painted with bold and broad strokes.

2. The Bridge: Communication

Vision is the blueprint; communication is the means to bring it to life. Effective communication bridges the gap between the leader’s vision and the team’s actions. Through clear, concise, and continuous communication, leaders ensure everyone shares the same understanding and moves in unison.

3. The Heart: Empathy

While hard skills may get the job done, it’s the softer aspects like empathy that truly distinguish a leader. The ability to perceive and understand team members’ feelings and perspectives breeds a culture of trust and respect, fostering deeper connections.

4. The Rock: Resilience

The path to success isn’t a bed of roses; it’s a rocky trail filled with challenges and setbacks. Resilience is the leader’s grit, their tenacity, the relentless spirit that helps them weather storms and guide their team through rough terrains.

5. The Navigator: Decision-making

Decisions shape destinies, and no one knows this better than leaders. Equipped with analytical skills and judgment, leaders act as navigators, making critical decisions that influence the organisation’s trajectory.

6. The Gardener: Empowerment

True leaders are like gardeners who sow seeds of empowerment and nurture them with trust and responsibility. This environment enables team members to grow, flourish and evolve into future leaders themselves.

7. The Explorer: Lifelong Learning

Leadership isn’t a destination; it’s a never-ending journey. Great leaders are perpetual explorers on this journey of learning. They cultivate intellectual curiosity and strive for continuous self-improvement, becoming role models for their teams.

These seven fundamental traits, when combined, constitute the DNA of extraordinary leadership. However, cultivating these traits requires more than just time; it needs insightful education, guided training, and relentless practice.

This is where Quality Business Services comes into the picture. Our comprehensive leadership programs, steeped in real-world insights, are designed to empower your leaders. We don’t just teach leadership; we enable your teams to live it, breathe it, and embody it, thereby fostering operational excellence from the ground up.

Embark on this transformational journey with us: Explore Our Programs

Leadership is more than a role. It’s an art, a science, and above all, a commitment. Unleash the potential within you and your team with Quality Business Services.

Harnessing the Zen of Leadership: A Monk's Approach to Operational Excellence - Quality Business ServicesQuality Business Services

Harnessing the Zen of Leadership: A Monk’s Approach to Operational Excellence

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In the hustle and bustle of the corporate world, it may seem unusual to draw upon the wisdom of a Zen monk. However, their teachings, rooted in mindfulness, presence, and balance, offer unique insights that can enhance our leadership prowess and guide us towards operational excellence.

Embracing Mindfulness: The Present Moment Is All We Have

In Zen philosophy, mindfulness is being completely aware of the present moment without judgment. In the realm of leadership, mindfulness translates to conscious decision-making and active listening. It involves being fully engaged in conversations and meetings, which fosters better relationships and trust within your team. Moreover, mindful leaders are better at mitigating stress and enhancing productivity within their ranks, leading to an improved work environment.

Simplicity and Clarity: Less Is More

Zen monks champion a simple, uncluttered life, enabling them to focus on what truly matters. In a corporate context, simplicity can be about refining processes, eliminating unnecessary tasks, and maintaining clear communication. By promoting clarity and simplicity, leaders can minimise confusion and inefficiency, creating an environment conducive to excellence.

The Beginner’s Mind: Constant Learning and Innovation

In Zen, the concept of “Shoshin” or the beginner’s mind involves approaching situations with an open mind, free from preconceptions. This philosophy can fuel continuous learning and innovation in the workplace. Leaders who cultivate a beginner’s mind foster an atmosphere of curiosity and exploration, crucial for business growth and staying ahead of the competition.

Balance: The Middle Path to Success

Zen is about balance and finding the middle path. In leadership, this means balancing various elements such as work and rest, authority and empathy, or ambition and ethics. Leaders who master this balance create harmonious and resilient teams, contributing significantly to operational excellence.

Cultivating Compassion: Leadership with Heart

A key Zen principle is compassion, which in leadership, translates to empathy. Leaders who understand their team’s needs, strengths, and challenges can better guide and motivate them. Compassionate leadership can enhance team morale, loyalty, and overall performance.

As we can see, the Zen of leadership offers invaluable lessons in mindfulness, simplicity, continuous learning, balance, and compassion. While these might seem like soft skills, they are foundational for building strong teams and achieving operational excellence.

At Quality Business Services, we believe in empowering leaders with the tools and insights they need to excel. One of these tools is our free Leadership Skills Audit. This tool helps you identify your current strengths and potential roadblocks on your path to operational excellence. By downloading and completing this audit, you can fast-track your leadership success and guide your team with newfound wisdom and clarity. Get your free Leadership Skills Audit today and take your first step towards mastering the Zen of leadership.

Navigating the Corporate Jungle: A Survival Guide for Modern Leaders - Quality Business Services, Melbourne

Navigating the Corporate Jungle: A Survival Guide for Modern Leaders

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The corporate world is often likened to a jungle. It’s dense, competitive, filled with diverse creatures, and riddled with both seen and unseen challenges. To survive and thrive, leaders must navigate this intricate ecosystem with wisdom, resilience, and strategy. This article aims to be your compass, guiding you on a journey towards effective leadership and operational excellence.

Adaptation: The Chameleon’s Lesson

In the corporate jungle, change is the only constant. Market trends shift, customer preferences evolve, and technologies advance at a mind-boggling pace. The first lesson comes from the chameleon, a master of adaptation. As leaders, we must similarly adapt our strategies, constantly learning and innovating to keep our organisations agile and competitive.

Strength in Diversity: The Lesson of the Rainforest

A tropical rainforest thrives due to its diversity of species, each playing a unique role in maintaining the ecosystem. Likewise, diverse teams—comprising different experiences, skills, and perspectives—contribute to a dynamic and innovative workforce. Embrace diversity, foster inclusivity, and harness the collective strength of your team to conquer the corporate jungle.

Patience and Timing: The Crocodile’s Lesson

Crocodiles are known for their patience. They wait for the perfect moment to strike. Similarly, leaders must exercise patience and perfect their timing—whether it’s for launching a new product, implementing a strategy, or making key business decisions. Patience, coupled with a keen sense of timing, is often the difference between success and failure.

Collaboration: The Ant’s Lesson

One single ant is small, but together, ants accomplish remarkable feats. They embody the spirit of collaboration, working in perfect unison towards a common goal. In the corporate jungle, the ability to foster a collaborative environment and work effectively as a team is a crucial leadership skill.

Avoiding Predators: The Gazelle’s Lesson

Just as gazelles must be vigilant of predators in the jungle, leaders need to be aware of potential threats in the corporate landscape. These threats could be competitors, market changes, or internal challenges. By being proactive and vigilant, leaders can mitigate risks and protect their teams and businesses.

Navigating the corporate jungle is an exhilarating challenge. It demands a versatile skillset and an indomitable spirit. The jungle is unforgiving, but it also rewards those who master its rules with growth, success, and fulfilment.

Here at Quality Business Services, we are dedicated to equipping you with the skills and tools you need to not just survive, but thrive in the corporate jungle. One such tool is our free Leadership Skills Audit, designed to help you identify any roadblocks you might be facing and fast-track your leadership success. With this audit, you’ll gain insights into your strengths and areas of improvement, empowering you to navigate the corporate jungle with greater confidence and effectiveness. Download it today, and take the next step in your leadership journey.

When Leadership Meets Pop Culture: Unlikely Icons of Operational Excellence - Quality Business Services, MelbourneQuality Business Services

When Leadership Meets Pop Culture: Unlikely Icons of Operational Excellence

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In our mission to glean wisdom, leadership lessons aren’t confined to the realm of boardrooms, management handbooks, or corporate seminars. They surround us, pervade our daily lives, and occasionally emerge from the most unexpected sources – pop culture icons. From superheroes saving the world to flawed anti-heroes navigating complex realities, pop culture offers a treasure trove of lessons for leaders striving for operational excellence.

Mufasa, The Lion King – The Importance of Legacy and Mentorship

First on our list is the majestic Mufasa from Disney’s “The Lion King.” Despite his untimely demise, Mufasa’s legacy lives on through his son, Simba, teaching us about the importance of legacy and mentorship. As leaders, our influence goes beyond our tenure. By instilling a strong sense of purpose and fostering a nurturing environment, we can ensure our legacy of operational excellence continues, inspiring future generations of leaders.

Yoda, Star Wars – The Power of Wisdom and Humility

Yoda, the legendary Jedi Master from Star Wars, may stand at a diminutive height, but his leadership lessons are larger than life. Known for his wisdom, Yoda teaches us that true leadership isn’t about physical strength or showmanship. It’s about humility, perseverance, and drawing strength from within. Remember his iconic line, “Do or do not, there is no try.” It’s a lesson in commitment and resolute determination – two essential qualities for any leader aspiring for operational excellence.

Tony Stark, Iron Man – The Art of Adaptation and Innovation

Tony Stark, the genius inventor behind the Iron Man suit, embodies the spirit of innovation and adaptation. Despite his brash persona, Stark’s knack for quick-thinking, improvisation, and creative problem-solving during crises offers an invaluable lesson in leadership agility. In an ever-evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt, innovate, and pivot is crucial to maintaining operational excellence.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek – The Significance of Empathy and Diplomacy

Star Trek’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard exemplifies diplomacy and empathy. Whether dealing with interstellar disputes or crew disagreements, Picard’s approach always leans towards dialogue, understanding, and compromise. This reminds us that successful leaders foster a culture of open communication and mutual respect, nurturing healthier relationships and more productive, collaborative teams.

Walter White, Breaking Bad – A Cautionary Tale of Power and Corruption

Our last example isn’t a beacon of good leadership, but rather, a cautionary tale. Breaking Bad’s Walter White starts as an empathetic character, but his gradual descent into darkness reminds us of the corruption absolute power can bring. It’s a stark reminder that unchecked ambition and power, devoid of ethical considerations, can lead to destructive outcomes, damaging operational excellence.

In these icons, we find the reflection of our strengths and weaknesses, ambitions and fears, success and failures. They offer a mirror, sometimes flattering, often discomforting, but always enlightening. And through their stories, we learn more about our own journey towards leadership and operational excellence.

Whether you find yourself identifying with Mufasa’s nurturing leadership, Yoda’s wise tenacity, Stark’s innovative brilliance, Picard’s empathetic diplomacy, or are wary of following White’s corrupt path, there’s always room for growth and improvement.

This is where QBS comes in. We invite you to download our free Leadership Skills Audit. This valuable tool will help you identify any roadblocks that might be hindering your path to operational excellence and fast-track your leadership success. Learn from pop culture, learn from QBS, and let’s write your leadership story together.

Transformative Leadership: Inspiring Continuous Process Improvement - Quality Business Services, MelbourneQuality Business Services

Transformative Leadership: Inspiring Continuous Process Improvement

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In the modern business landscape, success hinges not only on innovation but on continuous improvement. Leaders play a vital role in fostering this culture of persistent growth and evolution. This concept, often referred to as “transformative leadership”, serves as a cornerstone for thriving in today’s dynamic market.

The Nature of Transformative Leadership

Transformative leadership goes beyond managing teams and processes—it involves inspiring change and growth. Transformative leaders leverage their influence to foster an environment that encourages continuous learning, process improvement, and innovation. They view each challenge as an opportunity for growth and every success as a stepping stone towards further improvement.

Continuous Process Improvement: A Key Objective

A core objective of transformative leadership is to inspire continuous process improvement. This means that processes are consistently evaluated and refined to drive increased efficiency, productivity, and quality. It’s not about making massive overhauls, but about making small, steady changes that culminate in significant improvements over time.

The Role of Transformative Leaders in Process Improvement

Transformative leaders are at the helm of this continuous improvement journey. They cultivate an environment where team members feel empowered to challenge the status quo, propose innovative solutions, and implement changes. They drive the shift from a reactive culture that addresses problems as they arise, to a proactive culture that prevents issues through ongoing process refinement.

Skills for Transformative Leadership

A transformative leader needs to demonstrate several key skills and attributes. These include visionary thinking, the ability to inspire and motivate, resilience in the face of challenges, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Additionally, transformative leaders possess an understanding of the performance of the organisation’s processes and an ability to identify opportunities for improvement.  They have high operational intelligence, or OQ.

From Vision to Reality

Transformative leaders translate their vision for continuous improvement into reality by establishing clear goals, creating robust plans, engaging their teams in the process and celebrating successes. They realise the value of improvement not just in terms of business outcomes, but also in relation to team development and job satisfaction.

In summary, transformative leadership, with its focus on inspiring continuous process improvement, is integral to business success in the modern world. It involves fostering a culture of consistent growth, driving productivity, and, ultimately, enhancing the bottom line.

Empower Your Leadership Team with Operational Excellence

Want to embrace transformative leadership and inspire continuous improvement in your organisation? Discover more about our leadership programs that are designed to equip your teams with the tools and techniques to become transformative leaders.

Explore Our Programs

Embrace change, inspire improvement, and drive success with transformative leadership.

Think Differently – Leadership Insider Interview Series

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In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,  interviews Anita Cunningham on how they ‘Think Differently’.

Quality Business Services is passionately dedicated to teaching individuals and organisations how to “think differently”. In a recent interview with Kath Clarke, QBS founder, Anita Cunningham, delved deeper into what this ethos means and how it is applied in our signature Core Operational Excellence program.

At QBS, we believe in the power of best practice principles as part of a Business Excellence Framework, leading to sustained organisational improvement. Anita stressed the importance of participants conducting self-assessments and living by these principles for effective operational improvements.

But, how do we help organisations think differently? Two key methods are systems thinking and critical thinking. Systems thinking is the understanding of how every part of an organisation is interconnected, and ensuring optimisation doesn’t result in another problem elsewhere. Critical thinking, on the other hand, encourages questioning and challenging of assumptions, promoting a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.

Interestingly, many leaders who participate in our programs find that these types of thinking are not as prevalent in their organisations as they should be. As Anita puts it, these concepts, while not new, are significant gaps for our participants, and their application often leads to enlightening moments.

It is this ability to inspire a fresh perspective and the subsequent “wow” moments that set our Core Operational Excellence program apart.

Watch the full interview to hear more from Anita and to understand why “thinking differently” is the secret sauce to operational excellence. You’ll also learn more about the transformative power of our Core Operational Excellence program.

Watch now and start your journey towards thinking differently, and achieving operational excellence today.