Virtual classroom

Growth Academy Online Mini MBA – SME businesses

This five day ‘Mini MBA’ style programme runs as a weekly one day session over 5 weeks. It is an interactive and thought-provoking course designed for those running an SME business who are looking to turbo charge their business performance.

Course outline

The programme draws upon the key components that every senior leader is required to know in order to run a successful organisation. Throughout the course there is a focus on the individual and their leadership style and how behaviours play a significant part in developing a positive organisational culture. During the programme delegates will be able to bring in their own organisational challenge and work with the tutors to overcome these.

The course is comprised of five key elements:

Finance for the SME leader
Building strong governance and performance
Strategic thinking for the business leader
Essential leadership skills for Directors
Digital marketing and sales essentials for the growth business

Learning objectives

Upon completion delegates will be able to:

Understand their legal responsibilities as a director and use tools to develop good governance through their organisation
Utilise key frameworks for the purposes of developing strategy, assessing performance and planning
Think more strategically and critically assess the performance of the organisation and of individuals
Draw upon new ways of communicating effectively across the organisation
Become more aware of their behaviours and key leadership styles that influence change and develop a positive organisational culture
Take away tools that can be used to allow the executive to make sound and more effective financial and business decisions
Assess the competitive landscape and build effective marketing strategies that take advantage of technology
Find solutions to key business challenges for immediate impact in the organisation

Agenda

Day 1

Finance for the SME leader

Understand the key financial reports and how they relate to each other, reading beyond the numbers
Review basic financial ratios and formulas in order to assess the health of your organisation
Review possible funding options and investment choices appropriate for the organisation
Assess how effective current management financial reporting is and how to enhance this to meet organisational objectives

Day 2

Essential leadership skills for Directors

Reflect on your own leadership style and how to evolve this for the benefit of your people
Use coaching and mentoring to drive the organisation forward
Understand how leaders shape the culture of an organisation
Performance management – getting the best out of your people

Day 3

Building strong governance and performance

Put in place good governance processes so you can get on with running the business
Understand the key differences between directorship, ownership and leadership
Assess the key risks to your business and how to mitigate these effectively
Understand the legal status of a company and other organisations and how they relate to the Companies Act

Day 4

Digital marketing and sales essentials for the growth business

Understand the importance of technology in marketing
Learn how to implement a target driven sales culture that delivers results
Learn about key tools you can use to understand your competition
Review the best techniques to retain your customers

Day 5

Strategic thinking for the business leader

Understand how to start to work on your business and not in it
Use key tools to assess options and implement new ideas
Review the key principles needed to ensure your operation runs smoothly so you can lead from the front