CPA Australia Leadership Academy — Participant Workbook

Leadership Academy

Lead the
CPA Australia
Way

Participant Workbook

1

Practice Self Awareness

Regularly reflect on strengths and blindspots, and pursue personal growth.

Before the session

Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions before the session. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest thinking now leads to better conversations in the session.

1

What words would your team use to describe your leadership right now? Do those words match how you see yourself?

2

What is one leadership habit you are proud of, and one you know you need to work on?

3

When was the last time you actively sought feedback? What did you do with it?

4

What shadow are you currently casting as a leader? Is it the one you intend to cast?

During the session

Models

Use this space to draw each model as your facilitator introduces it. Writing it down helps embed the learnings far more effectively than reading a finished diagram.

Module 1: Practice Self Awareness Draw here

During the session

Notes

After the session

My action plan

Based on today's session, what will you start, stop, or do differently as a leader? Be specific. Vague commitments don't stick.

Action	What does success look like?	By when	Done

Reflection

What was the most important insight from this session?

2

Communicate with Clarity

Make the complex clear, connect the dots and communicate consistently.

Before the session

Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions before the session. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest thinking now leads to better conversations in the session.

1

Think of a recent message that landed well with your team. What made it effective?

2

Where do you most often lose people when communicating? Is it the what, the why, or the how?

3

How do you currently check that your team has genuinely understood, not just heard, what you have communicated?

4

Is there a decision or change happening right now that your team does not fully understand? What is getting in the way of clarity?

During the session

Models

Use this space to draw each model as your facilitator introduces it. Writing it down helps embed the learnings far more effectively than reading a finished diagram.

Module 2: Communicate with ClarityDraw here

During the session

Notes

After the session

My action plan

Identify one communication habit to change this week. What will you do differently and how will you know it has worked?

Action	What does success look like?	By when	Done

Reflection

What was the most important insight from this session?

3

Choose Collaboration

Play as one, act as one, win as one.

Before the session

Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions before the session. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest thinking now leads to better conversations in the session.

1

Think about a recent project. Did you bring other teams in early or late? What was the outcome?

2

Where are the silos in your work? What makes cross-team collaboration hard for you right now?

3

How do you currently recognise and reward collaborative behaviour in your team?

4

Name one cross-team relationship you want to strengthen. What is stopping you from investing in it?

During the session

Models

Use this space to draw each model as your facilitator introduces it. Writing it down helps embed the learnings far more effectively than reading a finished diagram.

Module 3: Choose CollaborationDraw here

During the session

Notes

After the session

My action plan

Name one cross-functional relationship you will invest in this month. What is the first step?

Action	What does success look like?	By when	Done

Reflection

What was the most important insight from this session?

4

Grow People Daily

Develop people through intentional coaching and setting clear expectations.

Before the session

Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions before the session. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest thinking now leads to better conversations in the session.

1

Who on your team is ready for a stretch opportunity? What is holding you back from offering it?

2

When did you last have a genuine development conversation, not just a performance check-in, with each of your direct reports?

3

What would your team say if asked whether their manager invests in their growth?

4

Think about the last piece of feedback you gave. Was it timely, specific and useful? What would you do differently?

During the session

Models

Use this space to draw each model as your facilitator introduces it. Writing it down helps embed the learnings far more effectively than reading a finished diagram.

Module 4: Grow People DailyDraw here

During the session

Notes

After the session

My action plan

Choose one person on your team. Write one specific development action you will take for them in the next two weeks.

Action	What does success look like?	By when	Done

Reflection

What was the most important insight from this session?

5

Act with Courage

Make the hard but right calls and make them early.

Before the session

Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions before the session. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest thinking now leads to better conversations in the session.

1

What is a conversation or decision you have been avoiding? What is the cost of that avoidance to your team?

2

Think of a time you made a hard call. What gave you the courage to do it? What was the outcome?

3

Where are you currently accepting behaviour or results that do not meet the standard? Why?

4

Is there a decision sitting with you right now that should have been made already? What is getting in the way?

During the session

Models

Use this space to draw each model as your facilitator introduces it. Writing it down helps embed the learnings far more effectively than reading a finished diagram.

Module 5: Act with CourageDraw here

During the session

Notes

After the session

My action plan

What is the one courageous action you will take before the next session? Be specific about what, when and how.

Action	What does success look like?	By when	Done

Reflection

What was the most important insight from this session?

6

Drive Our Purpose

See beyond today and use business smarts to shape tomorrow.

Before the session

Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions before the session. There are no right or wrong answers. Honest thinking now leads to better conversations in the session.

1

How clearly can you connect your team's daily work to CPA Australia's member impact and strategic goals?

2

Where are you currently confusing busyness with progress? What would you stop if you had to?

3

What does the future require of your team? Are you actively building capability for it now?

4

If a member were watching your team work this week, what would they observe? Would it reflect your purpose?

During the session

Models

Use this space to draw each model as your facilitator introduces it. Writing it down helps embed the learnings far more effectively than reading a finished diagram.

Module 6: Drive Our PurposeDraw here

During the session

Notes

After the session

My action plan

Name one initiative or habit your team will stop, start or change to better align with our purpose. How will you communicate it?

Action	What does success look like?	By when	Done

Reflection

What was the most important insight from this session?