Barclaycard and the Center for Creative Leadership logos

Delivering Results: Connecting Strategy & Leader Development

Barclaycard connecting strategy case study

Client: Barclaycard

Description: Part of Barclays PLC

Location: Headquartered in London, UK and operating in 20 countries around the world

Size: 3,000+ employees

Industry: Banking & Financial Services

Barclaycard connecting strategy case study
Client Information
Barclaycard logo

Client Information

Name

Barclaycard

Location

Headquartered in London, UK and operating in 20 countries around the world

Description

Part of Barclays PLC

Size

3,000+ employees

Industry

Banking & Financial Services

Client Profile & Challenge

Barclaycard, a global payment business, faced dual challenges: Internally, it was driving a renewed focus on customer needs and customer experience through greater collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence. Externally, the financial sector was experiencing significant turmoil and rapid change.

The company needed leaders with the skills to manage in that difficult external environment while transforming the business. Its previous leadership development programs had been segmented within business units, but the firm needed a unified leadership development strategy that connected to its business strategy.

Particularly important was a group of about 125 “managers of managers” who were responsible for developing and implementing operational plans to carry out the business strategy and deliver on stretch goals.

Though these executives were strong and capable leaders, they had some gaps in critical areas and needed to:

  • Collaborate,
  • Influence without authority,
  • Drive innovation,
  • Coach others,
  • Build and maintain relationships,
  • Gain global awareness,
  • Translate strategy into action, and
  • Enact principles of connected leadership.

Solution & Results

Barclaycard worked with CCL and Ashbridge Business School to structure a program that would combine big-picture organizational strategy with individual leader development. The program was structured as 2 3-day sessions held 6 weeks apart.

The objectives of the leadership development initiative were to:

  • Build the leadership culture;
  • Connect strategy and leadership;
  • Align knowledge, skills, and action;
  • Improve ability to work across boundaries; and
  • Encourage ownership and engagement.

Coaching and action learning projects helped participants integrate lessons learned into their personal development, create practical plans for converting strategy to operations, and build stronger relationships within their departments and across the company. The leadership components were informed by our expansive expertise in leadership development, tailored to Barclaycard’s needs. This included our Benchmarks® by Design™ 360 assessment and other measurement tools to help participants gain insights into their individual strengths, challenges, and behavior patterns. Participants learned strategies for giving and receiving feedback, influencing, communicating, and leveraging social capital as a leadership asset.

By the Numbers

By the Numbers

100%

of participants felt they had become more effective leaders

92%

of participants’ direct reports said their managers had become more effective leaders

92%

of direct reports said their managers had improved their ability to establish strong, collaborative relationships

Over 2 years, 120 managers participated in the initiative.

Managers who went through the experience, as well as their bosses and their direct reports, reported strong outcomes. In particular, the participants made significant improvements in leadership effectiveness, collaboration, and influence. In the teams those participants led, 80% felt more empowered to do their work and 70% felt more engaged.

Participants Say

We had been a very high-performing organization, and our managers had great experience and expertise. But new realities and our ambitious agenda require greater innovation in what we do and how we work. Our leadership development strategy had to acknowledge and address this to create the future capacity we need.

James Prior

Head of Executive Development

We are seeing the initiative people are taking to connect with others across functions, geography, and levels in the organization. They are not just staying connected with their colleagues from the course, but reaching out to other parts of the organization. They see the value that multiple perspectives can add to their work and their personal development.

Eva Vandor

Head of Barclaycard Academy

After the course, I felt lifted above the daily challenges of my role to a broader and more strategic level supported by the peer group with whom I attended the course. It was one of the best executive development courses I have attended.

Participant

Barclaycard Executing the Programme

We are seeing the initiative people are taking to connect with others across functions, geography, and levels in the organization. They are not just staying connected with their colleagues from the course, but reaching out to other parts of the organization. They see the value that multiple perspectives can add to their work and their personal development.

—Eva Vandor

Head of Barclaycard Academy

After the course, I felt lifted above the daily challenges of my role to a broader and more strategic level supported by the peer group with whom I attended the course. It was one of the best executive development courses I have attended.

—Participant

Barclaycard Executing the Programme

Partner With Us

Achieving business success requires a common leadership language and consistent feedback process. We can partner with you to design a leadership development program tailored to your unique needs using our research-based 360-degree assessments.

Contact Us
About CCL
ccl sail

At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.

At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.

Get our latest insights delivered to your inbox: ccl.org/subscribe.

By the Numbers

By the Numbers

100%

of participants felt they had become more effective leaders

92%

of participants’ direct reports said their managers had become more effective leaders

92%

of direct reports said their managers had improved their ability to establish strong, collaborative relationships

Barclaycard logo

Client Information

Name

Barclaycard

Location

Headquartered in London, UK and operating in 20 countries around the world

Description

Part of Barclays PLC

Size

3,000+ employees

Industry

Banking & Financial Services

What to Explore Next

Armfield Foundation Grant Supports Surry County Schools’ Groundbreaking Leadership Development Initiative
Case Study
Armfield Foundation Grant Supports Surry County Schools’ Groundbreaking Leadership Development Initiative

Learn how CCL partnered with Surry County Schools, with support from the Armfield Foundation, to empower youth to grow as citizen leaders and achieve their dreams.

Ohio Superintendent Leadership Institute: Addressing the Challenges of Executive Educators Statewide
Case Study
Ohio Superintendent Leadership Institute: Addressing the Challenges of Executive Educators Statewide

Learn how CCL partnered with Ohio educators to build a leadership development institute for superintendents, improving psychological safety, wellbeing, and leadership effectiveness.

Shaping the Future of Leadership in Albania
Case Study
Shaping the Future of Leadership in Albania

Learn how CCL partnered with AADF to help achieve their mission of promoting leadership and entrepreneurship in Albania.

About CCL
ccl sail

At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.

At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.

Get our latest insights delivered to your inbox: ccl.org/subscribe.

Download as PDF