The Orient Programme 2025 – Leadership and Management Programme

Client: A Multinational Peacekeeping Organisation

Industry: Military and International Affairs industry

Established: 1981

Overview

In early 2025, a multinational peacekeeping organisation engaged us to deliver ‘The Orient Programme’, a bespoke leadership development experience designed for its supervisory team.

Built on the principle that we are all leaders, the programme supports a unified approach to accountability, performance, and professional growth under the banner ‘One Team, One Mission.’

This new phase of The Orient Programme focused specifically on supervisors – those reporting directly to senior and mid-level managers, many of whom had already participated in previous iterations of the programme.

The challenge

As the organisation looked to embed its people strategy and strengthen leadership behaviours across all levels, the need for targeted supervisor development became clear. Supervisors were navigating complex demands from both above and below. The goal was to equip them with the skills, mindset and confidence to manage their teams effectively, contribute strategically, and lead with clarity.

Our approach

Working with a mixture of ex-military personnel and civilians, the programme was designed around three key stages, combining virtual learning with an immersive in-person experience.

Stage 1: Orientation

Delivered online in short, accessible sessions, the Orientation phase introduced learners to the programme’s structure, purpose and expectations. Participants met their facilitators, engaged with the digital learning platform GiraffePad, and began exploring key management ideas including the Accountability Ladder and Circle of Control. The sessions also began building group connection – an essential foundation for what followed.

Stage 2: Prior Learning and Engagement

This new phase gave supervisors a valuable head start ahead of in-person delivery. Two engaging online modules were offered:

· Leadership & management: Key differences between leading and managing, emotional intelligence, and personal leadership style

· Understanding current positioning: Time management techniques, personal challenges, and goal setting frameworks such as Eisenhower and Pomodoro

This early engagement helped create momentum and gave supervisors space to reflect on their leadership approach in real time.

Stage 3: In-Person Delivery

The third and final stage took place over three days and combined theory with practice in a highly interactive format. Each day focused on a different level of leadership:

· Day 1: Achieving the task – Exploring team purpose, psychological safety, leading change and managing projects

· Day 2: Building and retaining the team – Developing trust, navigating conflict, understanding team dynamics

· Day 3: Supporting and developing the individual – Coaching skills, performance management and self-leadership

Across all sessions, participants engaged in structured discussion, peer-led activities and reflection – reinforcing core leadership behaviours in a practical, engaging environment.

Outcomes and impact

· A cohesive, supervisor-specific leadership programme aligned to strategic priorities

· Increased engagement and confidence among first-line managers

· Positive feedback from participants citing relevance, insight, and delivery style

· Stronger peer relationships and cross-functional understanding across the supervisor cohort

· A clear foundation for developing leadership capability across the wider organisation

Client feedback

We were thrilled that 100% of participants recorded that they found the Orient Program either very useful or useful, one supervisor said:

“Thank you for providing such an engaging and informative course. It was extremely useful in helping me reflect on how I can improve myself and support my team — and what areas I

need to focus on more. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and the way you delivered it was excellent.”

“Honestly, it was very informative, and I think it gave everyone a better understanding of what they can do to improve, not just individually but collectively. It also helped us better understand our personal management styles.”

Let’s talk

Looking to support and strengthen your supervisory teams with targeted development that reflects your people and your mission? We’d love to help. Find out how The Orient Programme can work for you! Contact us or call t: +44 7506 725195 e: naomi@hedfan.co