Guiding & Coaching a 100-Day Challenge Project

Guiding & Coaching a 100-Day Challenge Project

This programme will prepare you to guide a rapid, 100-day project team and support the leaders who commission it. You are stepping into a role that demands fresh thinking to solve complex strategic issues requiring collaboration across departments and organisations.

How it Works

The course is structured into 6 Modules that walk you through the process week by week. In each module, there are guidance notes and deep dives, which are made up of

  1. Podcasts (+/- 5 min) – Coaches discussing the week’s tasks, packed with practical tips.
  2. Videos  (+/- 5 min) – Strategic context and practical tips to do the weekly tasks.
  3. Full version – Transcript and full content of the Guide or Deep Dive
  4. Self-Assessment – Do this after each Deep Dive to see if you’ve got it!
  5. Assignments – Each module has one Assignment covering the outputs from your Challenge. 

Note: We’ve used AI to bring the guides and deep dive insights to life—thank you for overlooking any weird accents.

Before you Begin

To get the most out of this journey, start by reviewing these two essential guides:

  • The 100-Day Challenge Approach: Understand the core philosophy.

  • How the Program Works: Get your roadmap for the course.

Ready to Make an Impact? Let’s Get Started.

Learning programme Content

Module 1 - Preparing the track for the 100-Day Sprint
Week minus 3 – Securing Leadership Commitment 1 Deep Dive
Guide Content
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Module 2 - Getting out of the starting block - The Start-up workshop
Week 1 – The Start-up Workshop and connecting with the Team Leader 2 Deep Dives
Module 3 - Setting the Implementation pace
Week 2 – Managing the first team meeting 1 Deep Dive
Guide Content
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Week 3 – Sorting out data issues 1 Deep Dive
Guide Content
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Week 5 – Keeping the team focused 1 Deep Dive
Guide Content
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Module 4 - Halfway hydration - Refresh Workshop
Week 6 – Preparing for the Refresh Workshop 1 Deep Dive
Guide Content
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Module 5 - Final Surge to the finish line
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Thought starter reflection questions

Jot down thoughts on these questions – to the extent they are relevant to your experience at the session:
  • When did the mood in the event shift from “why are we here?” to “this could be interesting – I am excited to be part of this.” What triggered this shift? 
  • When did you have to go “off script” on the agenda or to change the agenda? What triggered this? What did you adjust? How did it go?
  • What was most surprising to you at the event?
  • What new insights did you gain about the issue at hand, and about the way leaders in the system interacted with each other?
  • Where did the conversation get stuck? What got it unstuck?
  • How would you characterise the level of trust among participants in the meeting? To what extent did this shift as the meeting progressed? To what do you attribute this shift, if indeed it happened?

Thought starter...

Reflection Questions 

Jot down thoughts on these questions – to the extent they are relevant to your experience at the session:

  • When did the mood in the event shift from “why are we here?” to “this could be interesting – I am excited to be part of this.” What triggered this shift? 
  • When did you have to go “off script” on the agenda or to change the agenda? What triggered this? What did you adjust? How did it go?
  • What was most surprising to you at the event?
  • What new insights did you gain about the issue at hand, and about the way leaders in the system interacted with each other?
  • Where did the conversation get stuck? What got it unstuck?
These are 100-Day Challenge Mentors. 

They did some work before you received the Challenge Note. This included:

  • Writing the Challenge Note, and making sure that the leaders of all the organisations represented on the team are comfortable with it – and committed to supporting the work of the team
  • Helping the leaders of these organisation recruit you and your colleagues to the team
  • Gathering some baseline data and other information that will help you and your teammates set your 100-Day goal and develop your plan.
  • Making sure all the preparations are made for a successful Lift-Off workshop, when you and your teammates will meet and get your 100-Day Challenge started. This includes venue, facilitation support, food, swags, comms, travel arrangements and whatever else is needed.

 

Mentors will participate in all or part of the Lift-Off Workshop, mostly at the start to provide context and answer questions, and at the end to give you and your teammates feedback about the goal and plan you develop.

During the 100 days following the Lift-Off Workshop, here’s what the Mentors will do:  

  • They will check in every two weeks with the team leaders to see how the team is doing and what support they and the team need.
  • They will keep other organisational leaders informed and engaged during the 100 days, and pull them in to help as needed.
  • They will participate in the last part of the Refuelling Workshop, halfway through the 100 days, to see what additional support the team needs, and to begin to plan with the team for sustainability and scale-up.
  • They will work with the team at the Sustainability Workshop to finalise recommendations on sustaining the results and building on the work of the team.