PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING (FTX)
Practical leadership training through team exercises in the field.
FTX is a form of practical leadership training that teaches, reinforces and tests your skills in using all of the leadership principles talk about. We create a dynamic simulated environment in which you and your team have to solve problems in constantly evolving situations, created by roleplayers.
First we revise the leadership methods and principles you’ll need in order to succeed in the environment we’ve created. Next, we teach you how to safely use the equipment we’ve provided and outline the rules. Following these preparations, you’re divided up into teams, team leaders are appointed and the tasks you and your team have to complete within a certain timeframe are given to you. In planning and fulfilling the tasks, you’ll encounter the sort of everyday challenges faced by leaders. To overcome them, you’ll have to implement the management methods and principles you’ve learnt. Succeeding is only possible by working as a team, with everyone having to take ownership and, where necessary, the leader’s role.
Feedback is given after each mission in order to help you see the links to everyday personal and work situations. Once the feedback has been given, new leaders are appointed and you will start the next task. Everyone gets the chance to be both a leader and a subordinate so as to develop their own and others’ leadership skills. This also gives you a unique opportunity to look at problems from a different angle and through your colleagues’ eyes, leading to a better understanding of one another, the nature of the problem and potential solutions.
Leadership is a practical skill and, in our view, not one you can develop sitting in a classroom alone. In order for you to gain practical experience, we you out of your comfort zone, giving you the chance to learn how to lead through situations encountered in the military. We simulate basic battle situations in the field, enabling you to complete short cycles of planning, execution and feedback. To this end we use laser weapons, there is no danger of getting hurt and for which no previous knowledge or experience is needed: everyone is trained to use them on site. The emphasis is on practical training in leadership methods not the tactical skills.
You don’t need to be a world-class athlete to take part in the training, nor will it turn you into soldier or sharp-shooter – the course is about honing your leadership abilities. The principles and skills acquired on the course will help you in both your business and personal life.
The day begins in the classroom by learning leadership principles and methods which are needed to succeed in the FTX environment. We continue with getting to know the equipment, how to use it and then get acquainted with the rules. After the preparations participants are organized into teams, team leaders are appointed and presented with a mission the team has to execute in a certain time frame. After each mission we debrief and provide feedback, helping participants connect the freshly learned lessons to their daily work and personal life.
After each round different participants are designated as leaders and we move on to a different but related mission. Throughout the day all participants have roles both as a leader and a subordinate, helping them to develop their own leadership skills and those of others. You will have a unique opportunity to see the problems through the lens of a leader, subordinate and colleague. This setup contributes to better understanding of each other, the problems and possible solutions.
PLANNING THE MISSION
- Importance of planning
- How to plan in a stressful situation
- Standard procedures – why are these necessary and how to use them?
TACTICS AND PRACTICE
- Overview of the weapons and equipment
- Basic skills for operating in an armed unit
- Practicing implementation and preparation
FTX SCENARIOS
- Missions that are time critical and demand taking action quickly
- All participants have roles both as a leader and a subordinate
- Feedback after each mission connecting the experience to your company (or team)
Participants will have a thorough experience of using leadership principles and extreme ownership principles and an idea of how to apply them in real life. Lessons learned are practical, immediately usable and suitable for leaders of different levels and experience – from C-level to frontline workers.
Participants will have improved the following skills:
- Making swift decisions based on limited information
- Immediately executing based on those relevant decisions
- Taking ownership of arising problems and corresponding solutions
- Being a team player and collaborating
- Communicating more effectively up the ladder, down the ladder and with colleagues
- Simplifying the plan and therefore raising effectiveness
- Prioritizing everyday tasks and long-term strategies
- Encouraging their peers to solve problems and LEAD
- Keeping their EGO in check to better support the execution of the mission
- Adapting to a quickly changing environment
- Making decisions when lacking information and in chaos
- Taking responsibility and solving problems both at work and in personal life
What are the physical demands for participating?
There are no specific requirements for participating in FTX. Ability to move outside at a walking pace is expected, but we will accommodate participants with limited mobility if needed.
Is military service knowledge expected?
No previous military experience matters. All necessary training happens on the spot and FTX is suitable for people from all walks of life.
What kind of equipment is used?
Participants will be provided harmless laser weapons, there are no actual projectiles. When sensors register ‘being hit’ by the invisible beam, the participant is notified only by sound and vibration.
What is included in the price?
The price includes the use of all necessary equipment and lunch. In addition, everyone will get to keep their FTX shirt and there are snacks and drinks always available so you can be comfortable throughout the day. Participants will have to arrange their own transportation to and from the location.