When: | 18th October, 2022 @ 1:45 pm – 4:45 pm |
Where: | Zoom Executive Forum |
Contact: | Reservations 01383 223353 |
Guest Speaker: Lt Col. (Ret) Andy Middlemiss BEM, DL
Chairperson: Dr David Fraser
Recent background and reflections
For several decades “military matters” did not register much on our myopic business radars? But now, the continuing shocking events in Ukraine, with “Putin’s war” have rightly dominated the daily media headlines since early in the year. We have been shaken to our very core by the realities of the atrocities, anguished cries of humanity and growing economic uncertainties that are now rampaging across – not only Ukraine – but across Western countries and indeed globally.
In recent weeks, on a different tack, we could not fail to be impressed by the role and contributions of the armed forces following the loss of our much loved and respected now departed Queen Elizabeth. This admiration applied to both the events throughout the UK leading up to the State funeral, and at the day of the funeral itself.
These two scenarios of military successes could hardly be different. However, there is at least one common denominator that is in the quality of the leadership that underpins and enables the outstanding performances that we have all witnessed on the media. It is this link with “quality leadership” that is the focus of today’s workshop and particularly the exploration of the excellent leadership training in the army, both “in operations” and through Sandhurst programmes, that underpins the outcomes in operations.
SIBL’s past relationships with the RAF, Police Scotland and the SFRS confirmed that there is much that business leaders can learn from the “uniformed industries”. Today is a unique opportunity to tune into lessons learnt from the military as Lt Col (Ret) Andy Middlemiss BEM DL relates his leadership story spanning 33 years in the army with numerous tours of duty in warzones and high-tension areas and as an instructor at Sandhurst. In the Chair is Dr David Fraser PhD who is making a very welcome return, with his accomplished interviewing Q & A and facilitation skills once more to the fore.
The Workshop Core Content
The workshop will include an interview and Q & A together with opportunities for group discussions. It is anticipated that the following aspects of leadership development will emerge as proceedings progress.
- A link that with the Sandhurst motto “Serve to Lead” (dear to his heart) and what that means
- An examination of the balance between senior and junior leaders
- The whole concept of Mission Command – and how that is continuously evolving and why
- Views as to who participants regard as being good leaders in both commercial and public sectors? And why are they particularly relevant in today’s challenging world?
- Andy will bring into the arena the story of in one far away, largely unknown, and forgotten campaign leader in WW2, with perhaps surprising lessons for leaders of all kinds in the present.
Outputs
As with all SIBL’s interactive events, the output depends on the contributions of both the speakers and participants, and facilitation skills, in what is effectively a “learning laboratory”. So each delegate will find their own takeaways with their experiences and what transpires “in the room and on the day” for them.
Speaker’s Profile: Lt Col. (Ret) Andy Middlemiss BEM DL
Andy has been Chairman of the Perth and Kinross Branch of SSAFA for the last 8 years, a charity helping and serving ex serving members of the armed forces and their families in a wide variety of ways – www.ssafa.org.uk . He has been a volunteer for the charity for over 20 years. He was thrilled when the Branch was awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) in 2018. He was awarded a BEM in the NY honours list 2021.Since 2014, he has led 4 KOSB tours to the WW1 battlefields, including Gallipoli, and took one to Arnhem in 2019. He is in regular demand as a lecturer on military matters.Andy is a Vice President of the Royal Caledonian Education Trust, which helps Scottish servicemen’s children in need and is a Deputy Lieutenant for Perth and Kinross. Chairperson, Interviewer and Q&A Master – Dr David Fraser For the last 15 years or so, he has focussed on organisational leadership, change, and growth, and enabling professional relationship skills, and has written books on these topics.He works with clients primarily in industry in science, engineering, manufacturing, and technology but also in academia, and the public sector. Where these worlds meet, he typically supports leaders and their teams with substantial leadership evolution over extended periods. David has run his own variant on “leadership think tanks” with a keen interest in leadership development in both Scotland and globally. |
Andy was in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) for 33 years, serving all over the world, including two tours of Loan Service in Brunei, Borneo, working for the Sultan of Brunei, an instructor at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, CO in Edinburgh, several Ireland operational tours, a six-months operational tour in Belize, and three tours in Germany during the Cold War.After leaving the Army in 2000, he ran the 200 acres Burn House Estate in Glenesk, Angus, an educational charitable trust, for 10 years.
David Fraser has a long-standing close relationship with SIBL as a speaker and author on leadership topics. Within recent years, David has taken the chair as “interviewer” at SIBL’s Continuous Improvement event at Mitsubishi and at Liz Oliver’s book launch at SIBL re “The Change Equation” and as far back as at SIBL’s 15th anniversary dinner in 2018.David has a 1st class honours degree in engineering and is a leadership programme director by profession.