This blog, written by Nathaniel Hancock, Public Sector Strategist, shares insights from his experience completing the Cambridge General Management Certificate of Achievement, during which he completed the following Executive Education programmes: People & Organisational Effectiveness Transformational Leadership, Strategic Decision-Making for Leaders and Creating High Performance Teams.
Nathaniel has been on an inspiring learning journey and we extend our huge congratulations to him on this outstanding achievement. This post is part of the Executive Education Inspiring Leader series.
Before joining our programmes, what were the biggest challenges you faced in your industry?
After two decades working in the American public sector, one challenge that stands out is helping others “remove the friction for connection,” as Executive Coach Jamesina Sainsbury teaches in the CJBS People and Organisational Effectiveness programme. For civil servants, the need to modernise must constantly battle with bureaucratic inertia; motivation often stems from a desire for public service rather than from notions of profit or competition; and performance management can be hamstrung by powerful tendencies towards risk aversion. These are but three areas where the public arena sometimes faces dilemmas that differ from those of the private sphere.
After completing the programmes, what has had the biggest impact on you, your team, or your organisation?
Thankfully, the world-class faculty and speakers at CJBS possess centuries of collective experience listening to and carefully advising executives from private industry and government alike. Because of this (and due to their exceptional presentation and facilitation skills), the professional development gained from my General Management Certificate of Achievement courses at CJBS far exceeded my expectations and translated directly into mission outcomes.
As a leader, what skills do you believe will be most valuable for professional and organisational growth in the coming year?
In addition to the focus on breaking down communication barriers at work, my CJBS experiences highlighted the need to (1) balance efficiency with innovation, and (2) never underestimate the power of the organisation’s underlying culture to shape mindsets, processes, and outcomes. Returning to the office armed with these indelible impressions resulted in the launch of new communications approaches and strategies to increase historical analysis on the one hand and enhanced future investment on the other. I cannot thank the trusted CJBS faculty and course developers enough for their investment in our success. Bravo!
Embark on a transformative journey with the General Management Certificate of Achievement (GMCA) and move from functional specialist to confident, strategic leader. Create a bespoke learning pathway by choosing from 40+ programmes and complete 10 days of intensive study flexibly over two years. Learn more >
