Navigator, the personal development programme for men, is moving ahead, achieving impressive results in the pilot phase. Client organisations and potential trainers are now coming on board for the run up to public roll out in 1998.
Introduction
Following the success of the Springboard Women's Development Programme, there has been a sustained interest in a 'brother' programme for men. The Springboard Consultancy has teamed up with James Traeger of Menswork to develop a programme with the same high quality standard of training and fitness for purpose. By the end of 1997, the men's programme in pilot form, called Navigator, has already gained a successful track record with several client organisations.
What we have done so far
- Concluded the research phase with over 120 interviews in
eight consortium organisations supporting the pilot phase
of the programme
- Formulated the Navigator image and core values consistent
with the Springboard standard, in tune with the needs of
the men and their organisations
- Completed Ten Navigator Pilot Programmes in three formats:
- two plus two day programmes with a one month break for
reflection
- two plus one day plus one day programmes over a two
month period
- 4 x 1 day programmes over a three month period
- Run development programmes for over 150 men volunteers
- Finished the Navigator workbook in draft form
- Initiated familiarisation with several organisations
interested in further pilots.
- Opened a key list of men interested in being trained as
Navigator trainers
Navigator Programme Content
Much of the Navigator programme has parallel processes and content with the Springboard programme. The key differences are in terms of emphasis only.
Some key similarities include:
- Challenging expectations about what 'men' are like
- Navigator is not anti-women, just as Springboard is not
anti-men
- self nomination
- practical action-taking balanced with time for reflection,
theory and practice
- use of a workbook
- training time away from the workplace and time between
sessions for self-directed learning and supportive
coaching
- single gender groups with same gender trainers
Some key differences include greater emphasis on:
- Careful construction of the marketing to the men, with a
positive message
- Smaller groups initially for trust building and support
- Implicit and explicit acceptance of where they are 'coming
from'
- The use of the idea of life as a journey of transitions
- The concept of changing identity - ëwho am I?'
- Communication between men and women
- The importance of risk-taking in order for things to
change
- The role of men in the wider community
- The idea of spectrums as a way of balancing individuality
with group goals
- Creativity as a change tool
Benefits for the Men:
In their words:
"Excellent! I feel I've gained a lot and the goals I've set will hopefully gain me more"
"Ideas, tips and goals I otherwise would not have had"
"The ability to look at myself and think for myself a bit more for a change"
"An understanding of some basic differences between men and women"
"Viewing myself from a different perspective"
"It opened closets I had been keeping closed"
"It has given me direction"
"More confidence to look at what I'm doing, where I'm going and how to change it"
"Clarity of future aims at work and at home"
"A More open approach"
Benefits for their organisations:
- Improved efficiency from a more realistically
self-assessing male population
- Networking as a valued activity between men across
departments
- More positive, less cynical individuals, willing to 'put
themselves forward'
- A greater maturity and self direction in men
- Better customer care from more empathic workers
- Assertive male staff, who are easier to work alongside, as
team players
- Motivated men with self-directed learning agendas
- Personal development as a qualification desired by men
Next steps
- Three further pilot programmes to compete the learning
cycle followed by full evaluation, with James Traeger as
trainer, by end 1998
- Official launch of Navigator at the IPD Exhibition,
Harrogate, 28-30 October 1998
- A complete workbook fully evaluated by early 1999
- A series of two-day training events with James Traeger and
Jenny Daisley to enable interested male trainers to
experience the programme during the spring and summer of
1998
- Training trainer events in the spring of 1999 with James
Traeger and Jenny Daisley
- Full programmes for the public roll out in the spring of 1999
Contact us
James Traeger 2 School Road East Molesey Surrey KT8 0DN
Tel: 0181 979 3062 Fax: 0181 873 1428 mailto:traegerjr@aol.com
Jenny Daisley The Springboard Consultancy South Woodchester Glos. GL5 5EP Tel
Tel: 01453 878 540 Fax: 01453 872 363 mailto:springboard@compuserve.com
