Southwest Airlines: Developing Legendary Leaders,
Southwest Style
Bonnie Endicott, Southwest Airlines
Bjorn Billhardt, Enspire Learning
Southwest Airlines University for People
• Serve all 40,000 Southwest and AirTran employees with professional and leadership development
• Facilitated over 124,000 learning hours in 2011
• Staff of 17 facilitators, instructional designers, program specialists, and coordinators
Enspire Learning
• Leadership development experiences and simulations since 2001
• 50 learning and leadership development professionals
• Offices in Austin, TX and Berlin, Germany
Enspire Simulation Programs
Focus: Leadership, strategic thinking, cross-departmental collaboration
Focus: Business acumen, understanding drivers of financial success
Focus: Managing people, handling difficult conversations
Delivery: Blended, team-based, multiplayer
Delivery: Blended, classroom or virtual delivery, multiplayer, team-based
Delivery: Blended, classroom or virtual delivery, multiplayer, team-based
Outcomes: Personal insight, “big picture” mindset, effective cross-functional collaboration, behavior change
Outcomes: Better managerial decision-making, better communication using financial data and metrics
Outcomes: Confidence in handling difficult managerial situations, improved ability to manage employee productivity and engagement
Leadership Development at Southwest
High Potential Supervisors
• Managers-in-Training (MIT) Level I (3 weeks)
High Potential Managers
• Managers-in-Training (MIT) Level II (6 weeks)
Is Leadership for me?
• Leadership 101(2 days)
Yes! I want to be a Leader!
• Leadership 201(2 days)
Promotion to Leadership
• FUNdamen-tals of Southwest Leadership (2 days)
Promotion to Supervisor
• Leadership Southwest Style(3 weeks)
Promotion to Manager
• Next Level Leadership(2.5 days)
Director+
• Leadership Summit(1 day annually)
Emerging Leaders
Managers-in-Training II Program Objectives• Develop a personal leadership style that impacts the hearts
and minds of your People• Be a change Leader, building strong Teams and
communicating at all levels • Think strategically, seeing beyond today to plan for tomorrow• Serve others—be a model of a Servant’s Heart• Model Living the Southwest Way daily
6
Managers-in-Training II Program Objectives• Navigate the Southwest organization with influence• Research, assess, and present a recommendation to Senior
Management Committee that supports Southwest’s strategic direction
• Be purposeful and planful in your growth as a Southwest Leader
Blend of development techniques
• Executive sponsorship• Guest Professors• Strategic project• “Shadowing” a Senior
Executive• Business simulation• Online modules• Book debriefs
• 360° feedback• Camping & challenge
courses• Development opportunities
for Alumni
A Typical Agenda
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Freedom Hall / Training Room E / U4P 106
*Wear your MIT shirtU4P 106 U4P 106 U4P 106 U4P 106
7:30am Shuttle 8:00am Shuttle 7:30am Shuttle 7:30am Shuttle 8:00am Shuttle
8:00 – 8:30amPresentation Set-up
8:30am – 1:00pmSMC Presentations & Feedback
Freedom Hall / Training Room F for Lunch
1:30 – 2:30pmDebrief PresentationsU4P 106
8:30 – 9:00amDebrief & Daily Agenda
9:00am – 11:30noonInfluencer
11:30 – 1:00pmLunch w/ Herb and Colleen
1:00 – 5:30pmInfluencer, continued
8:00 – 8:15amDebrief & Daily Agenda
8:15am – 12:00pmInfluencer
12:00 – 1:30pmLunch with Sponsor
1:30 – 5:30pmInfluencer, continued
8:00 – 8:15amDebrief & Daily Agenda
8:15am – 12:00pmBusiness Simulation
12:00 – 1:00pmLunch
1:00 – 5:30pmBusiness Simulation, continued
8:30 – 11:30amIndividual Development Planning
Take-aways &Next Steps
CELEBRATE!! 4:30 pm Shuttle
5:30 pm Shuttle 5:00pm Shuttle
5:30 - 7:30pmFlt Ops – SIMS& Dinner
8:00 pm Shuttle
5:00pm Shuttle
5:30 - 7:30pmDinner (?)
8:00 pm Shuttle
12:00pm Depart to Airport
Simulation Capstone Experience
Team-Based Simulation• Teams formulate strategies and
execute multiple rounds• Structured, customized
debriefs drive learning• Duration: 6-12 hours
Online Pre-work• Rich, video-based media• Tools and exercises• Self-paced instruction• Duration: 4-8 hours
The Experience
The Experience
Debriefing Topics
• Strategy and finance• Shareholder value • Unit economics
– Breakeven analysis– Payback period– NPV and IRR
• Financial metrics and statements• Investment analysis and ROI• Profitability and cash flow• Systems thinking
Bonnie Endicott
Southwest Airlines
Questions?
Bjorn Billhardt
Enspire Learning
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