SPRING 2014

LocaL training courses in Latvia have been conducted by Mba Kaspars savicKis on

The pilot of the training material developed by the project “Young Leaders” was implemented by the Cy-priot partners in Cyprus between January and February 2014. GrantXpert Cοnsuling and Dias Publishing House Public Ltd, organized and implemented the training program which aimed to train young business

leaders in key leadership areas.

Kaspars Savickis in daily life takes part in business con-sultations and teaching in his own company “Komunikāciju darbnīca”. Running of training for participants they most liked any kind of activities – group and individual tasks, role plays, pair work, etc. For part of the participants some themes were hard to apprehend, because they can not see immediate application of these knowledge (for example, motivating others). Altogether participants evaluated the learning as useful and advised that theese kind of knowledge should be implemented in higher education programs.Information about the training courses has been announced through various sources and after information propagation on possibility to take part in pilot training, 57 persons applied in determined time limit, from whom 30 were selected to attend the pilot training. We selected people within the age group of 21-29, which were unemployed or young graduate, and also young professionals with less than 5 years of work-ing experience or young entrepreneurs.

young business Leaders WorKshops in cyprus

The pilot trainings of the innovative curriculum developed by the project “Young Leaders” were carried out by participating countries in the period November 2013 to February 2014.

Young leaders from Cyprus, Latvia, Bulgaria and Lithuania had the opportunity to develop key leader-ship skills including self management, business man-agement and people management skills. The trainings were very successful and provided a path to improved employability for the young participants.

introduction

The course: The trainers:

Skill Assessment - through a 360-degree assessment Dr. Celia Hadjichristodoulou

Skill Learning - with the use of basic theories Mr. Antonis Karatzias and conceptual models

Skill Practice- with numerous experiential exercises Mr. Antonis Hadjichristodoulou

Course Facts: Participants: 27 Place: the University of Cyprus Dates: 15th of January 24th and 25th of January 31st of January until the 1st of FebruaryStages: Training Job shadowing Coaching session

Upon completion of the course, participants were able to recognize which skills are considered to be the most important by employers and realize the importance of leadership skills. Skills that were developed during the

course include self management skills, business man-agement skills and people management skills.

Evaluation:First evaluation during the course – reporting satisfaction for the course and the trainers Second evaluation two months after its completion – showing the usefulness of the program and the skills taught

Overall the training program was successful in helping young leaders develop their leadership skills and hence improve their employability.

12-13November 2013

26-27November 2013

03-04December 2013

04-05February 2013

(self-assessment, introduction to the programme);

(people management and leadership skills and their development)

(evaluation of learning outcome)

(business management skills and development);

LLP-LdV-ToI-12-CY-1671210“YOUNG LEADERS: Developing and enhancing leadership skills for young managers in times of

crisis: an innovative training package for European young professionals”

Great success of the YBL training package in Bulgaria

The successfully implemented training programme covered a wide variety of skills like: self-confidence, trustworthiness, optimism, analytical decision mak-ing, creative problem solving, strategic thinking and planning, building networks and connections and etc. In Bulgaria 25 participants took part in the YBL training. The course was organized by project partner 4 – the National Association of Small and Medium Business /NASMB/ and held in three ses-sions: Ist Session - on Tuesday 14.01.2014, the IInd Session training - on Saturday 18.01.2014 and Sunday: 19.01.2014 and the IIIrd Session train-ing was held on Saturday 25.01.2014 and Sunday: 26.01.2014. The Course has been conducted by Eleonora Negu-lova - Chairwomen for National Association of Small and Medium Business; Mr. Alexi Alexov - comes from the private business as owner and general manager of production and trade companies, former

export-import manager; Anna Lalkovska - Director and lecturer at the NASMB VET Centre and Cvetka Petreliyska - Deputy Chairperson of NASMB. The trainers have been evaluated very highly by the trainees. The participants were very satisfied with the course. 76% of them strongly agreed that their expectations have been met. They found its content was organized to be easy to follow. The materials distributed were helpful and the topic covered cus-tomized to their needs (60%). The training is very innovative, well-designed and highly interactive. The training materials have been evaluated as very useful, interesting and interactive. Leadership in the era of digital technology, social media empow-ered citizens and networking communities is under radical transformation. Future leaders should be equipped with an array of skills necessary to adapt effectively and rapidly to new challenges. The training has influenced many of the participants to think towards to start their own business. Oth-ers believe that after the training will become much better in their jobs and will be able to rise in career. That is the main indicator of success of the YBL training package.

Leonardo transFer oF innovation proJect

overaLL statistics 105 participants

ybL seMinars in Lithuania

23 participants have participated in trainings of YBL project in Lithuania. Trainings last from 21 to 27 of January, 2014 in Kaunas. Courses have been conducted by prof. Violeta Šilingienė from Kaunas University of technology. Trainees were very satisfied with trainings and would like to repeat in the future. Three participants have been stimulated to start their own activities. Those participants, who are already working, have been encouraged to seek for higher positions at companies. That is very good feedback of trainings!

23 participants

• Students• Graduates• Young would be entrepreneurs • Young entrepreneurs

feedback gathered from at least 20 participants in each country

LATVIA LITHUANIA BULGARIA CYPRUS

the deveLopMent oF an innovative Leadership traing pro-graMMe For european young proFessionaLs in tiMe oF crisis

The Development of an Innovative Leadership Training Programme for European Young Professionals in Times of Crisis

Dimitra Iordanoglou, Betty Tsakarestou, Konstantinos Ioannidis, Lida Tsene, Nikos LeandrosPanteion University, Greece

Panteion Universityof Social and Political Sciences

Leadership in times of crisis

In this turbulent business environment, current and futureleaders should be equipped with an array of skills necessary toadapt effectively and rapidly to new challenges. As described byOsborn, Hunt, and Jauch (2002), during great challenges andperil, leadership changes significantly, due to its context.Hannah et al. (2009) support this argument and state thatextreme contexts usually transform and influence leadershipstyles. Especially nowadays, leadership requires skills tailoredto an environment of urgency, high stakes, and uncertainty(Heifetz et al., 2009).

Aim of the study

The aim of the present study is to investigate the crucialleadership skills under times of crisis and propose trainingmethods for the development of these skills in order tofacilitate employability and participation in the Europeanlabour market.

Methodology

An experiential learning approach was adopted, whereparticipants are given the opportunity to experience, reflecton their experiences, learn from them and experiment withnew behaviors (Kolb, 1984). A survey involving personalinterviews with 81 individuals was conducted in Bulgaria,Cyprus, Latvia and Lithuania. The sample consisted of twogroups of stakeholders, namely experts and young businessleaders with less than 5-year experience

Self Management Business Management People Management

Self confidence Trustworthiness Optimism

Making analytical decisions Strategic thinking & planning Creative problem solving

Collaboration & teamwork Interpersonal communication Building networks & connections Motivating others

Results and Discussion

Skill Assessment

Skill Learning

360-degree assessmentAssessment instruments

Basic theoriesConceptual models

Film screening

Skill Practice

Case StudiesRole playing

Team BuildingComic Workshops

Job Shadowing

Evaluation of the train the trainer seminar revealed high levelsof satisfaction among the participants with regard to theinnovativeness and organization of the training material, aswell as the usefulness and relevance of the program to theyoung business leaders’ needs

Training Program Train the Trainer Seminar

Pilot testing of the leadership training programme in youngbusiness leaders will take place during the next months in thefour receiving countries (Latvia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Bulgaria).The results of YBL’s evaluation and feedback will be used forthe customisation of the training package to young businessleaders’ needs.

In conclusion, since leadership development is a life journey,this leadership training programme is not, nor can it be, the onlyavenue for enhancing leadership skills. Rather, it informsparticipants about the importance of these skills, presents anoverview of what is available, and provides basic concepts andtools to assist them in the long journey ahead.

Conclusions

ICEM - 2014, Riga, Latvia, April 23-25

The Development of an Innovative Leadership Training Programme for European Young Professionals in Times of Crisis

Dimitra Iordanoglou, Betty Tsakarestou, Konstantinos Ioannidis, Lida Tsene, Nikos LeandrosPanteion University, Greece

Panteion Universityof Social and Political Sciences

Leadership in times of crisis

In this turbulent business environment, current and futureleaders should be equipped with an array of skills necessary toadapt effectively and rapidly to new challenges. As described byOsborn, Hunt, and Jauch (2002), during great challenges andperil, leadership changes significantly, due to its context.Hannah et al. (2009) support this argument and state thatextreme contexts usually transform and influence leadershipstyles. Especially nowadays, leadership requires skills tailoredto an environment of urgency, high stakes, and uncertainty(Heifetz et al., 2009).

Aim of the study

The aim of the present study is to investigate the crucialleadership skills under times of crisis and propose trainingmethods for the development of these skills in order tofacilitate employability and participation in the Europeanlabour market.

Methodology

An experiential learning approach was adopted, whereparticipants are given the opportunity to experience, reflecton their experiences, learn from them and experiment withnew behaviors (Kolb, 1984). A survey involving personalinterviews with 81 individuals was conducted in Bulgaria,Cyprus, Latvia and Lithuania. The sample consisted of twogroups of stakeholders, namely experts and young businessleaders with less than 5-year experience

Self Management Business Management People Management

Self confidence Trustworthiness Optimism

Making analytical decisions Strategic thinking & planning Creative problem solving

Collaboration & teamwork Interpersonal communication Building networks & connections Motivating others

Results and Discussion

Skill Assessment

Skill Learning

360-degree assessmentAssessment instruments

Basic theoriesConceptual models

Film screening

Skill Practice

Case StudiesRole playing

Team BuildingComic Workshops

Job Shadowing

Evaluation of the train the trainer seminar revealed high levelsof satisfaction among the participants with regard to theinnovativeness and organization of the training material, aswell as the usefulness and relevance of the program to theyoung business leaders’ needs

Training Program Train the Trainer Seminar

Pilot testing of the leadership training programme in youngbusiness leaders will take place during the next months in thefour receiving countries (Latvia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Bulgaria).The results of YBL’s evaluation and feedback will be used forthe customisation of the training package to young businessleaders’ needs.

In conclusion, since leadership development is a life journey,this leadership training programme is not, nor can it be, the onlyavenue for enhancing leadership skills. Rather, it informsparticipants about the importance of these skills, presents anoverview of what is available, and provides basic concepts andtools to assist them in the long journey ahead.

Conclusions

ICEM - 2014, Riga, Latvia, April 23-25

The Development of an Innovative Leadership Training Programme for European Young Professionals in Times of Crisis

Dimitra Iordanoglou, Betty Tsakarestou, Konstantinos Ioannidis, Lida Tsene, Nikos LeandrosPanteion University, Greece

Panteion Universityof Social and Political Sciences

Leadership in times of crisis

In this turbulent business environment, current and futureleaders should be equipped with an array of skills necessary toadapt effectively and rapidly to new challenges. As described byOsborn, Hunt, and Jauch (2002), during great challenges andperil, leadership changes significantly, due to its context.Hannah et al. (2009) support this argument and state thatextreme contexts usually transform and influence leadershipstyles. Especially nowadays, leadership requires skills tailoredto an environment of urgency, high stakes, and uncertainty(Heifetz et al., 2009).

Aim of the study

The aim of the present study is to investigate the crucialleadership skills under times of crisis and propose trainingmethods for the development of these skills in order tofacilitate employability and participation in the Europeanlabour market.

Methodology

An experiential learning approach was adopted, whereparticipants are given the opportunity to experience, reflecton their experiences, learn from them and experiment withnew behaviors (Kolb, 1984). A survey involving personalinterviews with 81 individuals was conducted in Bulgaria,Cyprus, Latvia and Lithuania. The sample consisted of twogroups of stakeholders, namely experts and young businessleaders with less than 5-year experience

Self Management Business Management People Management

Self confidence Trustworthiness Optimism

Making analytical decisions Strategic thinking & planning Creative problem solving

Collaboration & teamwork Interpersonal communication Building networks & connections Motivating others

Results and Discussion

Skill Assessment

Skill Learning

360-degree assessmentAssessment instruments

Basic theoriesConceptual models

Film screening

Skill Practice

Case StudiesRole playing

Team BuildingComic Workshops

Job Shadowing

Evaluation of the train the trainer seminar revealed high levelsof satisfaction among the participants with regard to theinnovativeness and organization of the training material, aswell as the usefulness and relevance of the program to theyoung business leaders’ needs

Training Program Train the Trainer Seminar

Pilot testing of the leadership training programme in youngbusiness leaders will take place during the next months in thefour receiving countries (Latvia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Bulgaria).The results of YBL’s evaluation and feedback will be used forthe customisation of the training package to young businessleaders’ needs.

In conclusion, since leadership development is a life journey,this leadership training programme is not, nor can it be, the onlyavenue for enhancing leadership skills. Rather, it informsparticipants about the importance of these skills, presents anoverview of what is available, and provides basic concepts andtools to assist them in the long journey ahead.

Conclusions

ICEM - 2014, Riga, Latvia, April 23-25

Dr. Dimitra Iordanoglou presented the following poster in the International Scientific Conference Economics and Management which was held in April 23-25, 2014 in Riga, Latvia. The poster describes the aim of the Young Leaders project, the essential leadership skills in times of crisis, the methodology and the stages in the development of the innovative leadership training package for European Young professionals.