For nearly 160 years, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has been at the forefront of marine and offshore energy innovation. With teams combining to create a global reach, they negotiate technical, operational, and regulatory challenges so their industries can operate safely, securely, and responsibly.
We had a conversation with Nick Bizic, director of global career management at ABS, to discuss working with Bluepoint Leadership Development.
In pursuit of a leadership development solution
With a keen focus on maritime safety and protocols, the company was built on a traditional leadership structure,
a top-down approach to decision-making, and a strong motivation to follow instructions. And although that laser
focus has served the company well, a need was identified to find new ways to develop its employees and foster
the emergence of new leaders.
“We were very good at looking back on past performance. But we didn’t effectively examine the developmental needs of our teams. We were good at looking backwards, but not forwards.”
The effectiveness of the Bluepoint approach
In measuring the effectiveness of the training, Bizic points to the ease of working with the Bluepoint team. Based on feedback on a pilot training program rolled out to ABS leaders in Houston, the Bluepoint team was able to make custom alterations to the program to meet the needs of Bizic’s particular leadership teams.
“There was willingness to adapt to our needs. And that
was key. Essentially, they were willing to determine what training worked best for us, and built it that way.”
Observing results across the organization
There was a strategic benefit to the program. More than 500 global managers have gone through the training, and they have increased their ability to have forward-thinking, positive conversations with their teams. Bizic also points to a tactical benefit of Bluepoint: After completing the initial training, several individuals have focused on further development.
“The training resonated beyond just the lesson at
hand, and they have taken on the mantle of skills
development to their credit.”
The proof is in the participant feedback
For ABS, the Bluepoint team made the service easy and effective. Of all the training going on, Bizic commented that Bluepoint is the one program that elicits the most positive feedback. Managers have gone out of their way to comment on the strength of the materials and lessons.
“Bluepoint has the ability to create something that is
interactive, encourages engagement, and helped us
look forward and further than before.”