Identifying and fast tracking high potential women Adelaide Women adelaide.edu.au

Identifying and fast trackinghigh potential women

Adelaide Women

adelaide.edu.au

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Identifying and fast tracking team

Project team• Anita Berry, Senior Marketing Manger, Marketing and

Communications

• Sue Hampstead, Manager Employee Services, Human Resources

• Caroline Laurence, Associate Professor, Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline of General Practice, School of Population Health

• Jane Mathias, Professor, School of Psychology

• Susan Oakley, Associate Professor, Head Gender Studies and Social Analysis, School of Social Sciences

Project sponsor Kent Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International)

Project coach Sophie Hampel, Inkling Women

University of Adelaide

3University of Adelaide

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Agenda

• Why promote women from within the University? Project purpose

• Where are we now? Current landscape and background

• What did we do? Project approach and methodology

• What did we discover? Project findings

• How can we improve? Project recommendations

University of Adelaide

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27.5%University of Adelaide

6University of Adelaide

7University of Adelaide

Retain talented women

8University of Adelaide

Improve organisational performance

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Where are we at now?

University of Adelaide

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Identification: finding high performers

University of Adelaide

Academic women

Level A = 45% Senior = 22%

Professional womenHEO2 = 66% Senior = 28%

11University of Adelaide

Internal

External

12University of Adelaide

The horizon: moving forward

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What did we do?

University of Adelaide

14University of Adelaide

Literature review

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Interviews

with senior University staff

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The interview

• Key attributes of high potential leaders

• Approaches they currently use in their area

• Suggestions on how the University might identify high potential leaders

• How high potential females can be fast tracked into leadership opportunities

University of Adelaide

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Findings

x

University of Adelaide

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Findings: Attributes of high potential leaders

University of Adelaide

Strategic

Broad-based & long-term perspective

Able to identify important issues & foresee consequences

Innovative & responsive

Initiative

Drive & integrity

Enthusiastic & motivated

Willingness to take on new

roles & responsibilities

Integrity, commitment &

ethics

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Articulate & communicate

key issues

Engaging

Teamwork

Optimise group outcomes

Respectful

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Findings: Identifying and fast tracking

University of Adelaide

PDRs

Line managers

Acting/deputy positions

Secondments/roles at a higher level

Continuing mentoring/coaching during transition to leadership roles

Development of a ‘talent’ pool

Identification

Fast tracking

Support system

20University of Adelaide

Findings: Barriers and concerns

PDRs not performedSqueaky

wheel

‘Masculine’ management

style

Male culture

Resources

Equity and transparency

Multiple procedures

Feudal system

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Recommendations

University of Adelaide

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Key recommendations

University of Adelaide

What: Simplify the seven leadership capabilities

How: Align with terminology used by senior management to the four capabilities

What: Establish defined pathways for succession planning

How: Utilise secondments, committee positions, deputy/acting/ associate roles and/or special projects for career & skill development

Establish a database of high potential female leaders

Provide discretionary budgetsShort-term <12 months

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Key recommendations

University of Adelaide

Medium-term 1-2 years

What: Expand the current leadership programs

How: Add on module that incorporates coaching, mentoring

What: Broaden PDR

How: Incorporate leadership

What: Use the PDR

How: Formalise training

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Key recommendations

University of Adelaide

Long-term >2 years

What: Develop a culture that recognises and celebrates the unique talent of existing female staff and that promotes women from within the University

How: Understand the current culture at the University

Use the Adelaide Women Programs to provide direction on changing the culture

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Sponsor: Kent Anderson Coach: Sophie Hampel Interviewees: Senior University staff

University of Adelaide

Thank you

26University of Adelaide