What happens on a Frontrunner course?
The Frontrunner course guides participants through a unique
leadership journey based upon the book "Leading Beyond Authority:
Leadership in a changing world", written by Julia Middleton,
founder of Common Purpose.
During the course of over three to four days, participants go on
visits to businesses, institutions and organisations to get a
behind-the-scenes perspective on an organisation and the sector it
is in. They will deal with real-life leadership dilemmas and learn
from the experiences of leaders from all sectors of society.
Participants will also be challenged personally and as part of a
learning group with whom they'll share, connect and be held
accountable throughout the process.
Here is a sample of organisations that have contributed to our
Frontrunner courses:
- Oxfam
- The Observer
- London Metropolitan Police
- YMCA
- NHS
- Unilever
- British Red Cross
- Institute of Directors
- PwC
- Islamic Relief
- Laing O'Rourke
- Arbour Ventures
- Number 10 Downing Street
- UnLtd
- Financial Times
- Barclays
- DLA Piper
Frontrunner day by day
Day one: Leadership and me
Together for the first time, the participant group will discuss
their own very different experiences of leadership and identify
issues they want to explore with the external contributors. They
will then work on the skills they will need so as to benefit from
the rest of the course; this will include the art of inquiry,
questioning techniques and network building.
Day two: Power and influence
Participants visit a range of organisations to meet leaders from
different sectors who are operating at the local, regional and
national levels. They are looking to understand the context in
which decisions are made both by leaders in positions of formal
power and by others who can influence them.
Day three: Leading change
Participants will work on a real-life challenge being faced by the
city. They delve into the local issues and priorities, meeting
local leaders. They must come up with viable ideas - despite their
limited experience - by the end of the day. The challenge could be
about anything, from health or policing to economic
development.
Day four: And next...
Participants meet with leaders - from the public, private and
community sectors - in small groups to explore the issues covered,
to test their ideas and to plan for the future.
After the course, Frontrunner alumni continue to meet and exchange ideas through the alumni website. Frontrunner alumni form a subsection of the wider Common Purpose alumni - more than 35,000 people across 12 countries, including established leaders from all sectors and communities.
