Autonomy, Teams and Tension - projects under stress
This conference explored the tensions that arose between Autonomous Leadership and Teamworking and/or Stakeholder inclusivity.
Participants gained an understanding of the tensions and conflicts that emerged from leadership styles responding to strategic influences. They heard expert viewpoints on identifying and managing these project success factors and also participated in open discussions on aspects of the conference theme.
View conference programme and speakers.
We'd like to thank our exhibitors for their support.
Keynote speaker
Professor Eddie Obeng
Session | Opening keynote: The tensions within project leadership
Described by the Financial Times as a 'leading revolutionary' and 'agent provocateur', Eddie is a professor at the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Henley Business School, founder and Learning Director of Pentacle The Virtual Business School, and a leading business theorist, innovator and educator.
Conference programme (subject to change)
🕐 08:30-09:15Registration |
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🕐 09:15-09:25Welcome remarks🞇 Dr Teri Okoro, Director, TOCA |
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🕐 09:25-10:10Opening keynote: The tensions within project leadership |
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🕐 10:10-10:30Stakeholder hacks🞇 Trish Thurley, Director, Sims4Training.com 🞇 Ian Cribbes, Director, IMC&T Ltd First of two interactive sessions where groups share ideas on overcoming the challenges of adopting either an ‘Autonomous’ or ‘Inclusive/Engaging’ project approach. An example real-world project will first be described, as a vehicle for this discussion. |
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🕐 10:30-10:35Mentimeter - data gathering |
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🕐 10:35-11:00 |
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Refreshment break |
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🕐 11:00-11:40Own your autonomy🞇 Oliver Randall, Tribe365 🞇 David Bovis, Duxinaroe After introductions attendees will be introduced to the very latest and most complete understanding of brain function by David forming an idea of what the challenge owning your autonomy presents and how to navigate it. |
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🕐 11:40-12:20The neurological levels of team-working: Harmony and tensionsUnderstanding how teams really work at conscious and unconscious levels is critical to a harmonious workplace. This session uncovers what those levels are, how to use them to detect and avoid tensions and how to smooth the management of change by checking you have considered all of them. |
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🕐 12:20-12:35Stakeholder hacks🞇 Trish Thurley, Director, Sims4Training.com 🞇 Ian Cribbes, Director, IMC&T Ltd Second of two interactive sessions where groups share ideas on overcoming the challenges of adopting either an ‘Autonomous’ or ‘Inclusive/Engaging’ project approach. An example real-world project will first be described, as a vehicle for this discussion. |
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🕐 12:35-13:30Lunch |
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🕐 13:30-14:30 |
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Breakout 1 - Burnout🞇 Paul Fisher, Principal Consultant, Costain This session will discuss Burnout in Project Professionals, the signs to look out for and some potential ideas to help avoid Burnout. It is proposed that people might like to share their own experiences in the session but individuals should not feel compelled to do so. |
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Breakout 2 - Insights for addressing tension🞇 Donna Unitt, Head of Delivery, Rocket Consulting Ltd This is an interactive session on isolation, collaboration and innovation across virtual remote teams and how Insights and understanding peoples colour preferences can help build better teams. |
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Breakout 3 - Psychology and conscious inclusion🞇 Dr Teri Okoro, Director, TOCA Through facilitated discussions and group activities, practical approaches will be uncovered to building inclusive, people-centred project teams that thrive under pressure. |
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🕐 14:30-15:10Communication and behaviour - Transactional analysis |
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🕐 15:10-15:35Refreshments and networking |
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🕐 15:35-16:15Psychological safety in major projects🞇 Charlotte Townsend, PA Consulting and MOD 🞇 Andrew Solman, MOD Head Office 🞇 Mayanthie Wijesuriya, MOD MOD’s research in 2022 into psychological safety in major programmes found that leadership behaviours and clear direction were the two most important factors for building psychologically safe, and high performing, programme teams; but that many programme leaders didn’t feel safe themselves to act autonomously. In this session we’ll discuss the investments made in response to this, and share learning from successful programmes in managing these tensions. |
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🕐 16:15-17:00Panel - Summary of breakout sessions and speaker Q&AFacilitator: Dr Steve Walters, Principal Consultant, National Nuclear Laboratory 🞇 All speakers |
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🕐 17:00-17:10Closing remarks🞇 Dr Teri Okoro, Director, TOCA |
Training ByteSize
With over 20 years’ experience of delivering comprehensive accredited courses, Training Bytesize offers a variety of leading project, programme, and IT service management certifications.
We offer businesses and individuals flexible industry-leading training, certification, and support in a variety of leading certifications across the major project, programme, and portfolio disciplines from foundations, all the way to Chartered Status. This includes the APM PFQ, PMQ, Praxis, Project Planning and Control, Managing Benefits, and much, much more.
As a family-run business, we are big enough to provide you with the first-class support and resources you need to get the most out of your training, but small enough to care about you as an individual learner.
We pride ourselves on going above and beyond, delivering highly engaging and enjoyable learning experiences that result in well-equipped, enabled, and empowered project and programme professionals.
Exhibitor
Wellingtone
Established in 2001, we work with organisations of all sizes and industries. We work with our clients as their trusted partner, increasing their ability to deliver projects and driving success for their organisation. Our services and capabilities are unique.
We are an APM Accredited Training Provider, a PMI Approved Training Partner, P3M3 Axelos Consulting Partner, and Microsoft Gold Partner for project management. In 2024 Microsoft identified us as one of their top 4 partners globally for project management.
We are leaders in project and portfolio management with clients across many industry sectors, sizes and locations. If you’re curious about our work, our record of success is best demonstrated by our independently written case studies.
Our ground-breaking courses, industry-leading publications, Microsoft technology expertise, and reputation set us apart. We’d love to hear from you, so contact us today.
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