We love it when our members collaborate, and two the South Australian Business Chamber corporate members have come together recently with AFL Max successfully leading over 60 of the Ahrens Group’s executives and managers through their newly launched 4 Quarter LeadershipProgram. AFL Max’s leadership program, designed by AFL Max CEO and founder James Podsiadly, draws on his careers in both elite sport and start-up business.
Entering the start-up world, ‘Pods’ noticed a real gap in the market for hands-on and practical leadership programs that really focus on the ‘how’, when it comes to fostering better leadership.
“Having seen firsthand the importance of strong leadership within a team environment, I couldn’t help but transfer these key learnings into my start-up life, shared James.
“There is certainly no shortage of leadership programs out there. However, they often focus on the ‘what’ of leadership and not the ‘how’. We’re all about the ‘how’, ensuring we arm participants with the tools and confidence they need to face the daily challenges and requirements of being a successful leader.
“We also know there is a level of stress associated with leadership positions. We need to arm leaders to not only deal with certain stressors, but also have them perform individually and as a collective. My belief is leaders need to enjoy the privilege of leading people and have fun on their leadership journey. That is a strong element of this program.”
Having recently completed the program himself, Stef Ahrens, Managing Director of Ahrens Group shared, “I have certainly seen my fair share of leadership programs and offerings across my career. The AFL Max program stood out to us, as it really tackled leadership in business from an entirely new perspective.”
“The program’s practical and hands on approach resonated across the board, from our executive team through to our broader business.”
“The program offered relatable and practical learnings that I have already seen the team implement.
“I can honestly say this program has created a noticeable shift within our culture, with several staff making huge personal and professional life changes as a result.
“I could not speak more highly of the program. We are now working with Pods and AFL Max on how we implement the program to our broader business in 2023.”
The 4 Quarter LeadershipProgram comprises of four full day workshops, with a unique focus each session. The program requires participants to focus on themselves first, before they look to focusing on their teams. Participants’ focus then shifts to the importance of purpose, connection and performance. The program runs for a maximum of 12 participants per group with activity-based sessions held at AFL Max.
