Blogs and News

Innovation, Inclusivity and Supportive Leadership: How to Save the Construction Industry in South Africa

In a special guest blog, Gavin Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of Grinaker LTA, discusses the positive changes that can be made to reinvigorate the construction industry in South Africa...

Applying the Mission Command “Serve to Lead” Leadership Model for South Africa’s Public Servant Leaders

Joanne Walsh, Managing Director, IDG South Africa interviews Richard Westley OBE MC, Director International – Inspirational Development Group about why Mission Command is so relevant in South Africa right now...

Art, Music, Storytelling and Humour: Tips on How to Make Learning Easier

In this age of multi-faceted mediums innumerable touchpoints, what's the best way to digest and retain new information? How do we prepare ourselves to learn?

Mental Health Awareness: Can Lessons from Elite Sport Be Used to Improve Business Performance?

In professional sport, mental health is starting to be taken very seriously. In this blog, John Steele, Chair of the English Institute for Sport, talks about...

IDG wins prestigous award at the Golden Globe Tigers Award for Excellence Ceremony

Delighted to announce we have another award! The “Best in Training & Organizational Development” award at the 2019 Golden Globe Tigers. Here is the full press release.

IDG Opens UAE Office to Serve Leadership Development in the GCC Region

Leadership and management performance consultancy the Inspirational Development Group (IDG) today announced the opening of its latest office. Located at One JLT in downtown Dubai, it is...

A Prescription for Behavioural Change in the South African Pharmaceutical Industry

A detailed review, photographs and presentations from the recent conference organised by IDG - South Africa

IDG Middle East Appoints New Business Development Director

PRESS RELEASE IDG Middle East Appoints New Business Development Director IDG Middle East Appoints New Business Development Director by Matthew Moore Digital Marketing and Content Manager Sandhurst graduate, Peter Turpie, joins IDG to...

Leading in Volatile Times: 3 Skills Leaders Should Develop

We live in an era of unpredictability that some are referring to as a 'VUCA' world. But what skills should a leader develop in order to navigate these treacherous waters?

Resilience Essentials for Leaders and Pioneers to Grow and Prosper on the African Continent

The second part of IDG-SA MD Joanne Walsh's interview with Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, Founder and Chairman Juli PLC and former Minister of Health in Nigeria, on the health of the Pharmaceutical industry in Africa

Leadership and Governance Priorities for the Pharmaceuticals Industry on the African Continent

IDG-SA MD Joanne Walsh interviews Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, Founder and Chairman Juli PLC and former Minister of Health in Nigeria, on the health of the Pharmaceutical industry in Africa

Former IDG director Bob Jones honoured at Training Journal Award Ceremony

Industry awards recognise Bob as an “outstanding individual in the field of people development” and his “inspiring work in the area of leadership and followership”

Leadership lessons learned climbing K2: “Getting there requires resilience; getting back requires much more…”

Just as you experience the euphoria of accomplishing a “bold audacious” goal in your organisation, getting back to “business as usual” presents its’ own challenges....

How Does Business SA Meet the “Thuma Mina” Mandate?

IDG South Africa hosted Kaizer Nyatsumba at their quarterly executive conversation with Supply Chain Professionals, in Sandton...

Jake’s K2 Blog #25: Back to reality

I’ve now been back in the UK for 1 week. Seven days to recover, reconnect, and reflect on the events of the last two months...

Breaking Bad: How to See Our Habits Differently

Although a big fan of the box set unfortunately I am not going to voice my views on the life of Walter White....

Jake’s K2 Blog #24: On top of the world!!

This is a blog post I’ve been wanting to write for 10 years. I’m not sure that words will every do justice to the incredible experience that I had...

Jake’s K2 blog #23: A miserable day of climbing… but with good omens

We were always going to be starting somewhat at a disadvantage, as we were around 80m below normal C2, and we’d have to climb House’s Chimney to get there...

Jake’s K2 blog #22: The summit attempt continues…

We certainly weren’t in too much of a rush to leave C1 on Tuesday morning. The night had been okay, but ...

Jake’s K2 Blog #21: The real adventure begins!

We’d had a good amount of information that the weather was looking good for this week, and potentially with a summit day on Friday 20th...

Jake’s K2 blog #20: Waiting at 7350m for weather to clear, a summit attempt is imminent…

Despite being 7350m up K2, Jake has managed to send back a short blog about the imminent summit attempt...

Jake’s K2 Blog #19: Remembering the dead, and getting ready to go ‘up the hill’

Since we got down from Broad Peak, we’ve had a few days in basecamp to rest. After any rotation up the mountain...

Jake’s K2 Blog #18: Missing Climber on Broad Peak

Please note that I am going to keep this note short and generic, and is certainly not meant to be an official report on this incident...

Jake’s K2 Blog #17: A Death on the Mountain

Some of you might have seen that on Saturday the 7th July, K2 claimed its 84th victim, Canadian climber Serge Dessureault...

Jake’s K2 Blog #16: Jake attempts to summit Broad Peak

As you’ll know, a few days ago I applied for and got (at not insignificant expense) a permit to climb on Broad Peak...

Jake’s K2 Blog #15: Welcome to the leisuredome

We’ve been ‘resting’ in basecamp for 2 days now, mainly because there has been two days of pretty shoddy weather...

Jake’s Blog #14: The acclimatisation begins

For anyone looking at the tracker on the website today, you may have wondered why...

Jake’s Blog #13: The Puja Ceremony

Another good day in basecamp, with plenty to keep us busy. We had a perfect view of ...

Jake’s K2 Blog #12: C3 or not C3?

Having hardly been able to see our hands in front of our faces for the past 4 days, imagine our surprise...

Jake’s K2 Blog #11: Arrival at basecamp

Apologies for the lack of comms over the past few days - we’ve had constant snowfall...

Jake’s K2 Blog #10: The throne room of the Gods

Another day trekking up the glacier, very similar terrain to yesterday, however today’s destination is rather special...

Jake’s K2 Blog #9: The Invisible Enemy

This morning started on a downward note, as one of the trekking team decided that he wanted to head back down...

Jake’s K2 Blog #8: The mule train to Urdukas

A very short trek today, only about 6km and a net gain of 350m although with a fair amount of up and down....

Jake’s K2 Blog #7: The most amazing and inspirational trek in the world

As an inherently lazy individual, I would never complain about having a rest day on an expedition, but....

Jake’s K2 Blog #6: life, death and gratuitous nudity

It’s hard to believe that I left the UK only a week ago. Family and home feel a million miles and a lifetime ago...

Jake’s K2 Blog #5: The long trek to Base Camp begins

Jola camp is the first camp site on the trek up to K2 basecamp. It’s also the first main camp site in the Central Karakoram National Park...

Jake’s K2 Blog #4: The road to Askole

Whilst we didn’t doubt the ability of our liaison officer, there was still a certain amount of trepidation this morning as we woke...

Jake’s K2 Blog #3: preparation, packing and prophylactics!

A busy day today in Skardu - sorting kit and prepping loads for porters. Everything that we’re taking on the expedition has to be collated...

Jake’s K2 Blog #2: The Meyer has landed!

As I type this I’m sitting in the shade on the grassy terrace of the Concordia Motel in Skardu. It is quiet and tranquil; birds chirp in the Cyprus and poplar trees...

Jake’s K2 Blog #1: Here I Go Again!

“I’m a little bit sad about leaving that hill, it’s been 6 or 7 weeks here at basecamp, and I’m going to miss it. Whether or not I’m going to see it again in it’s glory, I don’t know, but we’ll see. In’Shallah”

IDG appoints Richard Westley OBE MC as Strategic Accounts Director

IDG are delighted to announce that Richard Westley will be joining the company on 18th June 2018. A decorated former Colonel in the British Army...

Let Them Be Human: How to Find (and Keep) the Leaders of Tomorrow

Another guest blog from Nigel Girling of the Babington Group, IDG's strategic partners. Here, Nigel argues that future leaders will be those with the strongest soft skills, not the ones that are the best managers.

Australian Cricket Ball-Tampering: A Failure of Leadership AND Followership

Whilst the leaders involved in the Australia cricket team's ball-tampering scandal have been rightly punished, the culture of the team must also be investigated...

The Apprenticeship Levy: how to use it to develop your current and future leaders

Nigel Girling of the Babington Group, IDG's strategic partners, talks about how the Apprenticeship Levy represents the "the single biggest impetus to the development of UK leaders and leadership since the industrial revolution."

Strategy versus Culture: Why Developing Your People Is More Important

The IDG Blog Strategy versus Culture: Why Developing Your People Is More Important Strategy versus Culture: Why Developing Your People Is More Important by John Steele Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, Director of Loughborough Sport and IDG...

Apprenticeships Work: How to Get the Most Out of the Apprenticeship Levy

The IDG Blog Apprenticeships Work: How to Get the Most Out of the Apprenticeship Levy Apprenticeships Work: How to Get the Most Out of the Apprenticeship Levy by Ed Chacksfield Senior Consultant This week is National Apprenticeship Week in the UK and a...

IDG Wins Fifth Award in Twelve Months

The IDG Blog IDG Wins Fifth Award in Twelve Months Middle East-based Programme Helped to Improve Worker Welfare in Oil and Gas Industry IDG Wins Fifth Award in Twelve Months Middle East-based Programme Helped to Improve Worker Welfare in Oil and Gas...

Diversity by Design: Achieving Gender Equality with Behavioural Change

The IDG Blog Diversity by Design: Achieving Gender Equality with Behavioural Change Diversity by Design: Achieving Gender Equality with Behavioural Change by John Scott IDG Associate I tend to avoid reading business books. Some are about the cult of...

Leadership Lessons from the Winter Olympics 2018: Getting the Balance Right

In the first of his blogs from the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Chairman of the English Institute of Sport and IDG Associate, John Steele reflects on the fortunes of Team GB and how the lessons they learn relate to the business world.

Visionary Leaders versus Trump: How Business Can Profit from Ethical Leadership

When Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement, he was roundly denounced by business leaders. But should ethical issues be a part of a modern leadership style?

Changing Without Failing: The cultural and leadership challenges the UK Olympic and Paralympic teams must overcome

Chairman of the English Institute of Sport and IDG associate John Steele talks about the huge cultural challenges facing the UK Olympic and Paralympic teams and how strong, courageous leadership is needed to ensure such high performing teams remains successful.

The Apprenticeship Levy: what it is and how to use it

The IDG Blog What is the Apprenticeship Levy - and how do I use it? What is the Apprenticeship Levy - and how do I use it? by Matthew Moore Online Manager The Apprenticeship Levy came into effect in the UK this year on 6th April and affects every company...

IDG and King Abdullah II Fund for Development awarded silver medal at Training Journal Award Ceremony

A Unique Collaboration between Jordan’s King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) and Global Leadership Company IDG has won a leading award for delivering excellence in public sector services at the annual TJ Awards.

Harness Excellence from Within Your Auxiliary Workforce

IDG's Gerry Woods on how innovative organisations are using people analytics to gain competitive advantage in their supply chain...

New Sky TV Show Chooses IDG and Sandhurst to Help Prepare Elite Olympians for “Tough Mudder” Challenge

Earlier this year we were approached by Sky TV to see if we could help them with a new TV show they were planning, called "Missions Mudder". The premise is that they take six Olympians and train them up to take on three 'Tough Mudder' courses as a team. The athletes will need to hone their existing skills, develop new ones, and also learn how to operate as a team in unfamiliar and difficult circumstances.

IDG and HSBC win more prestigious awards at World HR Congress Ceremony

The IDG Blog IDG and HSBC win more prestigious awards at World HR Congress Ceremony by Katie Laing Marketing Manager IDG is delighted to announce that our leadership and cultural development programmes being run in India and China have won more prestigious...

“Leadership principles are rarely authoritarian or hierarchical” – Interview with Stephen Bennett

An interview with IDG's Chairman in HR Future magazine as part of their "Global Masterclass" series.

Followership is the Number One Opportunity for Organisations to Achieve Exponential Improvement in Commercial Excellence

Joanne Walsh, the Managing Director of IDG South Africa has written an article for Lead Africa magazine on the importance of Followership, one of our core philosophies.

Inclusive Culture and Gender Equality at Work: Should Women Leaders Make the Tea?

With diversity, inclusion and gender bias still a major business issue, how can organisations ensure they get the most out of a diverse workforce?

Graduate Recruitment: Focus on Behaviour Not Skills for ‘Generation Z’

A HR Director of a financial services organisation once told me that she hired people because of their technical skills and experience and then fired them because their leadership and team behaviours were poor. Time and again...

Why Good Followership is Even More Important Now in a Post-Truth World

It is common knowledge that the individuals who voted for recent era-defining events such as Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, were not told the truth by the people who benefited from those same events. This has been called “Post-Truth”, which has been named word of 2016...

IDG and HSBC Win Prestigious Prize at Global HR Award Ceremony

IDG was delighted and honoured when our ‘Activate’ programme, developed for and in collaboration with HSBC, was awarded the “Best Leadership Development Award for Middle Management” at the 2017 Global HR Excellence Awards in Mumbai.

How to Drive a Culture of Commercial Excellence: Seven Tools for Effective Leaders

The IDG Blog How to Drive a Culture of Commercial Excellence: Seven Tools for Effective Leaders How to Drive a Culture of Commercial Excellence: Seven Tools for Effective Leaders by David Bowman Senior Consultant I have no doubt that improving business...

Forget ‘Brexit’ and Trump : Look to Jordan for a Fine Example of Transformational Leadership

The IDG Blog Forget 'Brexit' and Trump : Look to Jordan for a Fine Example of Transformational Leadership Forget 'Brexit' and Trump : Look to Jordan for a Fine Example of Transformational Leadership by Jimmy Gordon Chairman, IDG Middle East As the year...

Learning from Failure: Five Leadership Lessons from the Battle of Arnhem

The IDG Blog Learning from Failure: Five Leadership Lessons from the Battle of Arnhem by Lance Gerrard-Wright Recently I was lucky enough to be enabled by the Board of IDG to go on a “Staff Ride” to the battlefield of Arnhem in Holland, to study Operation...

Inspiring Emerging Women Leaders: Why Closing the Gender Gap is a Business Imperative

The IDG Blog Inspiring Emerging Women Leaders: Why Closing the Gender Gap is a Business Imperative Recent studies in the UK, the USA and the Middle East show that whilst there is still a massive disparity in the number of male and female leaders in C-suite roles, the...

The 5 Key Skills of Influential Leaders Within Every Organisation

The IDG Blog The 5 Key Skills of Influential Leaders Within Every Organisation Influential Leaders at every level in every organization cultivate a particular set of skills to enable them to move through the organisation faster and influence people outside of their...

Inspirational Encounters: Building Your Personal Brand Through Self-Motivation

A common characteristic amongst the leaders and future leaders who attend our programmes is the desire to improve their personal brand within their organisations. They recognise that this involves the ability to be able to motivate themselves to go above and beyond...

Rio 2016: Leadership and Management Lessons from the Paralympic Games

In the last of his exclusive blogs from Rio, IDG associate and Chairman of The English Institute of Sport John Steele, reflects on what can be learned from the Paralympics Games.

Rio 2016: Can Paralympics GB match Team GB’s Olympic success?

The IDG Olympic and Paralympic Blog 2016 Rio 2016: Can Paralympics GB match Team GB's Olympic success? IDG associate John Steele, is also Chairman of The English Institute of Sport. In this role, he is in Rio this summer helping Great Britain's bid to improve the...

Rio 2016: Partnership, Collaboration, Belief – Leadership lessons from Team GB’s Olympics

With Team GB having their most successful games in a century, what leadership lessons can be learned from Rio 2016? By Chairman of The English Institute of Sport and IDG associate, John Steele.

Rio 2016: How Data Analysis helped Wiggins rule in the Olympics cycling

Brazil Olympics 2016 Olympics Analytics: How Data Analysis helped Wiggins rule at Rio 2016 Innovation in data analysis has become increasingly important in producing the marginal gains required to excel in any area of excellence, not just sport. In his latest blog...

Rio 2016: effective leadership is about making the tough call now as well as future performance development

Brazil Olympics 2016 Rio 2016: effective leadership is about making the tough call now as well as future performance development In the second of his blogs from the Team GB camp at the Rio 2016 Olympics, IDG associate John Steele talks about how not to confuse...

Rio 2016 opening ceremony: After the scandal, ethical leadership is more important than ever

Brazil Olympics 2016 Rio 2016 opening ceremony: After the scandal, ethical leadership is more important than ever IDG associate John Steele, is also Chairman of The English Institute of Sport. In this role, he will be in Rio this summer helping...

Serve To Lead – article in The Manufacturer

This article on IDG and our Chairman Stephen Bennett appeared in the June 2016 edition of The Manufacturer magazine.

Next Generation of Sporting Leaders come to Sandhurst for IDG programme

As part of the Sport Industry NextGen Leadership Package, earlier this month the inaugural Sport Industry NextGen Leaders took on a 24 hour experience at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in a bespoke course created, designed and delivered by us.

Inspirational Motivation: What Leicester City and Claudio Ranieri Can Teach Us About Leadership

We often hear tales of a dynamic leader going into an organisation and changing everything to achieve success, says IDG's MD, Craig Preston. But what happens when, as is much more often the case, the leader has to work with what is already there? Well, in Claudio Ranieri and Leicester City’s case, they win the Premier League....

Building a Leader’s Skill Set: Why Technical Skills Alone Are Not Enough

The skills that a leader requires can be quite different from the skills that first got them into a leadership position in the first place. Softer skills, not technical, come more to the fore. So why do organisations rarely promote based on excellence in those skills, says IDG's Ben Epps.

Interview with IDG chairman Stephen Bennett on Ethical Leadership and the Role of Ethics in Business Today

People Matters, a leading HR knowledge and media platform based in India, interviewed our chairman Stephen Bennett about the importance of ethical matters in current business thinking.

Talent Trumps All: How Your People Are the Key to Competitive Advantage

IDG associate and former CEO of UK Sport John Steele explains how the talent finding strategies of Olympic sport are highly relevant to successful businesses, and why the ability to “fail well” is vital for high performing teams.

Diversity & Inclusion: Should Female Leaders Have Bespoke Gender Development Solutions?

Are you Yes, or are you No? In the first in a series of Diversity & Inclusion blogs, IDG'sKathie Knell and Johanne Malin take opposing viewpoints in debating whether women should have their own leadership development programmes.

Leadership Lessons From High Performance Sport

In the first of a series of blogs written exclusively for IDG, John Steele, Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, looks at leadership challenges within sport in 2016, an Olympic year. He explores how similar challenges are faced in other sectors during a time of intense change and refers to lessons he learned during his time as an Army Officer.

Leadership, good decisions and Motivated Numeracy – or why the US gun control argument won’t be won with data

New research shows that emotional and political attachment can skew our perception of data to such an extent that we deliberately choose the wrong answer. This can make it difficult for a leader to make an unbiased decision, but it's not impossible, as Iain Robertson, Senior Consultant at IDG, explains.

Effective Followership in the Rugby World Cup

Stuart Preston, Senior Consultant, believes that an organised support structure - with effective followers at the fore - is required to enable a leader to achieve their overall goals.

Under Pressure: 8 Ways Leaders Use Stress to Get Better Results

It is a myth that leaders are naturally pre-disposed to deal with stress better than us mere mortals. Instead, they find ways of dealing with stress that are to their advantage. Matthew Moore, IDG's Online Manager, looks at eight of the most common tools used.

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