Virtual Leadership Development Programme for a National Health Charity
Overview
A national health charity sought to strengthen leadership capability across its management population.
Following a competitive tender process, PreSSense was selected to design and deliver a leadership development programme for managers across the organisation.
Shortly after the programme began, the COVID-19 pandemic required the organisation to move all development activity into a fully virtual environment.
PreSSense redesigned the programme to operate as a structured virtual learning journey, ultimately supporting 300 managers across the organisation over a three-year period.
The Challenge
The organisation faced several complex challenges during this period:
Leadership capability needed to be strengthened across a large national workforce
Managers were supporting vulnerable communities during an exceptionally difficult time
The original programme design required rapid transformation into a fully virtual experience
Development needed to remain engaging and practical despite remote delivery
The organisation wanted to ensure that managers had the leadership capability required to support both their teams and the communities they served.
The Approach
PreSSense redesigned the programme as a structured virtual leadership development journey delivered in cohorts.
Each cohort consisted of approximately 40 managers and participated in a 13-week development programme combining virtual workshops, discussion, and applied learning.
Key leadership themes included:
Active Listening and Communication
Managers strengthened their ability to listen carefully, understand perspectives, and communicate with clarity and empathy.
Trust and Collaboration
Participants explored how to build trust within teams and support effective collaboration across the organisation.
Handling Challenge and Difficult Conversations
Managers developed greater confidence addressing complex or sensitive situations with colleagues and stakeholders.
Feedback and Followership
Participants explored how effective leaders create environments where feedback, accountability, and shared leadership are encouraged.
Innovation and Flow
Managers examined how to create environments that support creativity, engagement, and productive work.
Diversity and Inclusion
Sessions focused on recognising different perspectives and supporting inclusive team environments.
The programme emphasised practical leadership behaviours that managers could apply immediately within their teams.
The Outcome
The virtual programme successfully supported leadership capability development during an exceptionally challenging period.
Over three years, the programme achieved:
300 managers supported across the organisation
Delivery through multiple 13-week cohort programmes
Strong engagement from participants across the charity
Average feedback scores of 89% across seven programme evaluation metrics, including a 92% average attendance rate.
The programme demonstrated how well-designed virtual leadership development can deliver meaningful capability development even during periods of significant organisational disruption.