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Adding new leadership roles so the customer service team at every branch office has a local Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) prompted a new professional development initiative at Capital Farm Credit (CFC): working with FCC Services to customize a Leading and Managing for Results (LMR) program that is being delivered onsite at their Texas headquarters.
In 2015, CFC sent a few of their CRMs to Denver to participate in a general LMR program. The experience was so positive, says Orlando Castillo, Manager of Organizational Effectiveness for CFC, that the organization decided that all of their CRMs should complete the program. That could have meant a significant investment in travel, so instead, the program is being delivered at CFC, with FCC Services’ Sarah Spivey, senior leadership development consultant with FCC Services, doing the travelling. Sarah also worked with Orlando to create the right program for CFC’s needs.
“LMR is one of our most customizable programs,” Sarah says. “The standard program includes eight specific modules, but organizations can create their own program with as few as one or two modules or as many as 12, depending on their specific goals and challenges.”
The standard LMR program includes two sessions, each lasting two days and scheduled six to eight weeks apart, that cover key leadership topics including understanding and managing communication styles, talent management, conflict resolution and how to lead teams. The design of the program is intended to deliver immediate results, something Orlando has seen in action, and also experienced himself as he is currently participating in the program.
“Understanding your own communication style, becoming skilled at recognizing other people’s styles, and learning how to most effectively interface with others has an immediate impact on managing your direct reports and even influencing others in the organization,” Orlando says. “Our CRMs are able to use the tools they’ve learned right away to promote communication and growth among their teams.”
The program is designed for a broad audience: first-time managers needing core foundational skills, experienced managers looking to enhance their skills, and tenured employees who are leaders within their organizations but not necessarily on a path to management. Sarah says she’s even had a CEO participate in a standard session, who then decided his entire organization would benefit from the program.
“LMR is an entry point for many, and a jumping off point for more,” says Orlando. “It provides a foundation of communication and other critical leadership skills for new managers, and a refresher for those who have been managers for years, positioning them to grow in their positions and preparing them for advancement.”
The current onsite LMR program is just one aspect of CFC’s commitment to professional development, and Orlando foresees continuing to send employees to open enrollment LMR programs as well as other FCC Services offerings.
“When our employees are interested in development and can articulate the benefit a specific training program will deliver to the organization, we’re happy to make it happen,” Orlando says. “In order to create a pipeline of talent for our long-term success, we’ve made the choice to invest in our employees’ professional growth.”
For more information on the Leading and Managing for Results program, contact Sarah Spivey at sarah.spivey@fccservices.com.
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