For executive level (EL1 and EL2) and equivalent public service officers
who care about people and want to cultivate a high-performing team that produces results
Delegation Without Drama
How to consistently get quality work delivered on time
without stress or micromanagement.
Delegation Without Drama
How to consistently get quality work delivered on time without undue stress or micromanagement.
The Delegation Without Drama training is specifically designed for Executive-Level and equivalent* public servants who want to stop chasing work and avoiding difficult conversations, so they can cultivate thriving relationships and deliver results that matter.
Delegation Without Drama is a practical, real-world learning lab for public servants committed to learning how to have the leadership conversations that make delegation work.
*Committed AP6 level staff my apply for consideration
Delegation Without Drama is a transformational coaching program that will challenge the way you think about delegation, making requests and getting quality work delivered on time. Whether you delegate (or request) to your team, to your manager or to stakeholders, this program is designed to get you to 'no surprises' where quality work is consistently delivered on time - or you know otherwise in advance.
Is this program for me?
This program is for people who can relate to statements like these:
- I'm tired of rework, excuses, and last-minute surprises.
- I’ve been promoted for my technical skills, but I still default to doing the work myself.
- I want a high-performing team—and I also want to take care of my people.
- I have a team member who’s underperforming, and I want to help them lift.
- I avoid difficult conversations, such as feedback, standards, and accountability.
- I know I should delegate more, but I worry about overloading the team.
- I’m technically strong, but not always confident with people.
- I’ve been told I need to delegate more, but I haven’t been shown how in a way that works for me.
- I need input from other teams, but I have no formal authority over them.
- I’ve done the leadership courses. What I need now are practical skills I can use.
You’re likely a good fit for this program if:
- You’re a committed learner, willing to invest time and practise to build your skills.
- You value a structured and supportive approach to developing your leadership and delegation capabilities.
- You want practical skills you can apply, not just concepts to think about.
- You care about your team’s wellbeing as much as their performance.
- You’re keen to learn with and from a supportive group of peers.
- You’re time-poor, but you know that without strong delegation, you can’t grow your impact or progress your career.
This program may not be a good fit if:
- You’re after a quick, tick-the-box course for your CV.
- You’re not willing to practise between sessions to embed what you learn.
- You’re not open to learning from others—or supporting their growth.
- You’re looking for someone else to fix the system, rather than focusing on what you can do yourself.
- You expect immediate results without reflection, experimentation, or (even mild) discomfort.
A Practical, Supported Pathway to Confident, Effective Delegation
Delegation Without Drama isn’t a typical two-day training. Those programs can be inspiring—but without follow-up and real-world application, the learning rarely sticks. That’s because behaviour change takes time, practice, and support.
Delegation is a leadership skill. Like playing a musical instrument or a sport, you don’t master it by reading about it. You learn by doing—with guidance, feedback, and reflection. That’s what this course is built to provide.
Over eight weeks, you’ll take part in a structured learning lab. We introduce practical frameworks, but the real transformation happens as you try new conversations and ways of working with your team. Each experiment in the real world becomes a chance to reflect, adjust, and grow.
You’ll be supported throughout by:
Regular small-group executive coaching sessions.
A private peer learning partner.
Unlimited written and recorded video support from program coaches.
Unlike training that treats delegation as task transfer, this program helps you redesign the conversations that underpin trust, clarity, accountability, and delivery. You’ll learn to build the invisible infrastructure that helps work get done—without drama.
Next steps? Here are three options.
Option 1
If you know this is for you and want to sign up, then grab your credit card, press the button and fill in your details.
Option 2
If you're curious and want to learn more or meet Ian before you decide, then attend our complimentary webinar on 29th September.
Option 3
Grab your free copy of "The Difficult Conversations Guide: How to overcome anxiety and have the talk you've been avoiding."
If you need to get approval, download this business case template (request for permission template), personalise it, and return here when your manager has given their approval.
Ready to join?
Curious but want to learn more or meet Ian before joining?
"I have attended many management training sessions and your leadership training is one of the very few that I believe adds real value. Most other management trainers focus on wishy-washy high-level aspects of management that result in attendees losing interest, and they often struggle to pay attention. Your sessions break-down each component of leadership into small, simple, very practical steps that everybody can identify with.
The best aspect of the training is that you engage all of the trainees in a way that is interesting and non-threatening."
Ric Kerr EL1, Dept. Home Affairs
"I had a situation where I was receiving work that was not what I had requested. Instead of blaming the provider, I reflected upon what I had actually asked for and how I would make my expectations clearer. This promoted a greater understanding of exactly what I required, and the work then provided was what I needed."
Ms Executive Level (EL2), Public Servant (APS)
What you’ll receive:
Over eight weeks, you’ll be supported to make meaningful changes in how you delegate, manage, and lead. If you engage with the program and practise what you learn, you can expect:
Clearer, more confident conversations for outcomes, accountability, and feedback
Noticeable improvements in team performance, with fewer delays and surprises
Less stress and frustration for you, and a stronger sense of satisfaction in your leadership
🌀 A clear, practical framework
Four structured learning modules focused on the conversations that make work happen
Four interactive online workshops to deepen your understanding and practise skills
Regular group coaching sessions where you’ll apply ideas to your own leadership challenges
Reflective readings and weekly implementation plans to anchor your learning in real work
👥 Supportive human connection
A small, trusted community of peer learners
A dedicated peer coach or conversation partner to keep you on track
Fortnightly group coaching with Ian Higginbottom
A private online forum to share wins, reflect, and get support
Unlimited written or recorded-video support from program coaches via the forum
🗣 A proven methodology for public sector complexity
Based on Fernando Flores’ ontological framework, tested in Fortune 500 firms and in government (including the APS, ACTPS and VPS)
Purpose-built for the realities of the public sector, where results depend on influence across branches and teams you don’t directly control
Goes beyond generic “best practice” checklists—helping you diagnose and address the hidden breakdowns in trust, accountability, and promises that derail performance
By the end, you’ll have everything you need to lead with confidence, build a more capable and reliable team, and deliver on the APS mantra of “no surprises.”
"I had been in the Australian Public Service for around eight years when I was offered the opportunity to do five coaching sessions with Ian. I was finding it difficult to offer honest feedback. These sessions were instrumental in building my confidence in assertively communicating with colleagues, including senior executive staff, managers and direct reports.
I appreciated the mixture of theory, strategies and opportunities to trial these with him, before taking them back to my workplace. It was incredibly useful to problem solve scenarios with Ian, put into practice my learnings between sessions and then debrief together at the following session.
At the end of my time with Ian, I had learned practical techniques to equip me to walk into situations with confidence, that had previously felt daunting. I developed a stronger sense of self, with Ian helping me to be mindful of moods and posture. Ian also helped me to reframe situations using the power of positive language.
I highly recommend Ian. Anyone seeking to sharpen their communication, develop greater self awareness in the workplace and build more effective workplace relationships should book in some sessions with Ian."
Eleanor, Assistant Director (EL1), APS
“Before this program if an exec came and spoke to me I would be doing 7 other things at the same time. This program has made me think about what else I am doing and am I giving that person 100% of my attention. The result of this is an increase in the feeling of worth by staff as well an increased willingness to engage in important conversations.”
Ms Deputy Principal, ACT
“I would strongly recommend the program to anyone. This is great leadership training."
Mr Executive Leader, ACT
Key program details:
- Duration: Eight weeks
- Modules: Four modules
- Start date: Monday, October 13th 2025, at 09:45
- Live calls: Weekly MS Teams sessions (workshop or coaching)
- Access: All materials are available online for 12 months, with most content downloadable for private use
- Catch-up friendly: All Teams calls are recorded and posted to a private site for your access (but you will miss the interactive exercises!).
Next steps? Here are three options.
Option 1
If you know this is for you and want to sign up, then grab your credit card, press the button and fill in your details.
Option 2
If you're curious and want to learn more or meet Ian before you decide, then attend our complimentary webinar on 29th September.
Option 3
Or, grab your free copy of "The Difficult Conversations Guide: How to overcome anxiety and have the talk you have been avoiding."
If you need to get approval, download this business case template (request for permission template), personalise it, and return here when your manager has given their approval.
Andy Coombs (Australia)
Andy is a consulatant and former senior Australian Public Servant.
"You were quite explicit, both of you, that you created a space of permission about how we could engage. And for me that was actually quite helpful. ... So, the accessibility of learning was really attractive to me.
Course Modules
Module One – Laying the Foundations for Better Results
Clarify expectations. Diagnose what’s really going wrong. Make a plan that works.
We begin by introducing the Eight Essential Conversations for effective delegation and requesting. These are the practical tools behind getting work delivered on time and to standard—without micromanaging.
You’ll learn how to diagnose what’s behind late or substandard work and identify exactly which conversations are missing.
You’ll also learn a simple self-awareness practice that helps you stay grounded and present—especially in moments of frustration or pressure.
You’ll leave with a clear implementation plan and a new way of thinking about how work gets done with others.
Module Two – Listening, Language, and Leadership Presence
Upgrade your conversations. Build trust. Start the difficult conversations you've been avoiding.
Leadership happens in conversation. This module gives you a new understanding of listening—and of how language doesn’t just describe the world, but changes it.
You’ll see how to shift your presence and confidence as a leader by becoming more attuned to what’s being said (and not said).
We’ll introduce a powerful and practical interpretation of trust, as well as six key conversational moves that underpin effective leadership, collaboration, and performance.
You’ll reflect on your progress and refine your approach to putting what you’ve learned into practice.
Module Three – Emotions at Work and Conversations That Land
Shift unhelpful moods. Stay grounded under pressure. Strengthen your requests.
What you say matters—but how you say it, and what mood you're in when you say it, often matters more. This module gives you a practical way to recognise and shift moods that undermine performance, wellbeing, and relationships.
You’ll learn how to operate more from serenity, ambition, and curiosity even when things go off track.
We’ll introduce emotional literacy as a leadership skill and explore what it really means to make a clear, effective request.
You'll leave with insight into the role your emotional state plays in workplace conversations, and how to lead better by managing it.
Module Four – Feedback, Accountability, and Holding Others Well
Lead performance conversations that strengthen relationships—not strain them.
Here we deepen your skill with the six conversational moves and focus on the kinds of conversations that matter most when something’s gone wrong—or needs to improve.
You’ll learn how to give feedback that lands, how to hold others to account without creating defensiveness, and how to make complaints in a way that builds, not breaks trust.
We'll complete the program with a final short workshop where you reflect on what you have achieved and plan next steps for implemetation and continuous improvement.
From insight to action—how we embed learning
What’s included in every module
Each module is designed to help you apply what you learn to your real work, in real time. We introduce practical concepts and distinctions, then give you space to reflect, plan, and practise—so that insights become actions.
You’ll create your own implementation plan and be supported over the following fortnight to put it into practice. This includes:
One 90-minute small-group coaching session.
Two (optional) one-hour Q&A/coaching drop-ins.
Unlimited support via our private program forum.
Your own 'acountability partner' or peer coach.
This high level of support is here to help you move beyond just knowing what to do to actually doing it well—even in complex, high-pressure environments. You’ll be learning alongside a committed peer group, with structured time to reflect, adjust, and build your leadership capability in the situations that matter most.
The program is responsive. Content and focus may be adapted to best support the needs and priorities of the group.
Investment
First ten registrations get a special BONUS
(8 still available)
$2700
+ GST
- Bonus one-hour executive coaching session with Ian Higginbottom after the program
(Value $450) - Two-day delegation training delivered as four x four-hour workshops over eight weeks
(Value $2700) - Four 90-minute group coaching sessions
(Value $1200) - Eight (optional) 60-minute QA/coaching hours
(Value up to $1600) - Unlimited written QA and support
(Priceless)
Registrations 11 to 20
$2700
+ GST
- Two-day delegation training delivered as four x four-hour workshops over eight weeks
(Value $2700) - Four 90-minute group coaching sessions
(Value $1200) - Eight (optional) 60-minute QA/coaching hours
(Value up to $1600) - Unlimited written QA and support
(Priceless)
About your learning guide and executive coach
Ian Higginbottom has supported senior leaders across the Australian Public Service with more than 2,200 hours of SES-level executive coaching and over 500 days of leadership facilitation. He has worked with over 130 SES officers and 100's of ELs. He has delivered leadership and collaboration programs for agencies including PM&C, Health, DSS, Defence, Home Affairs, DSTO, and ARPANSA, as well as with school principals and leaders in Victoria and the ACT.
Ian combines practical executive experience (as a former senior leader, business founder, and Antarctic marine scientist) with the rigour of ontological coaching. This approach explores how language, emotion, and presence shape leadership. His style is practical, human, and grounded.
Beyond his professional work, Ian is committed to building communities where people can thrive. He’s a keen skier, hand-balancer, and traveller, and finds as much meaning in nurturing friendships and family as he does in leadership development. Participants often describe him as both challenging and supportive: someone who helps them step into new possibilities while keeping the work real and respectful.
Next steps? Here are three options.
Option 1
If you know this is for you and want to sign up, then grab your credit card, press the button and fill in your details.
Option 2
If you're curious and want to learn more or meet Ian before you decide, then attend our complimentary webinar on 29th September.
Option 3
Or, grab your free copy of "The Difficult Conversations Guide: How to overcome anxiety and have the talk you have been avoiding."
If you need to get approval, download this business case template (request for permission template), personalise it, and return here when your manager has given their approval.
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