Leadership Development - Programs That Work

Leadership development is the effort used to enhance an individual's ability to lead people towards a common goal

. This development involves learning new skills and expanding existing expertise. The training process helps them have a better understanding of the company vision and how best to achieve it by leading through example and learning new management techniques. Most organizations take the time and money to find the best, most qualified employees available. However, until recently, resources were very seldom spent on increasing their existing capabilities. Many companies have started to see their employees for the assets they are.

Organizations are beginning to view continued development and training programs as the best way to increase their return on investment. Leadership development comes in many forms, from formal, structured training programs and seminars to more informal sessions. Self-directed learning programs are more flexible and provide the opportunity for individuals to choose the time and place for the learning environment. Depending on the corporate culture, some programs work better than others. There should also be some consideration given to what the program is designed to achieve. Focusing on the needs of the business will help guide the decision making process.

Adults learn differently from children. As a result, note taking and memorization should be kept to a minimum. The training materials need to be presented in a way that addresses current, practical concerns and problems. This means that they will be vested in solving the issues at hand. Leadership development relies heavily on practical application of knowledge. Using the new materials and information provided in the program, they will gain a working understanding of how the training can be capitalized upon. This often leads to an exchange of information and feedback about their experiences. For training programs to be successful, the individuals involved must be willing to learn.

This means developing new behaviors and learning new skills that can be applied immediately. For some, this is a risky proposition. It pushes them out of their comfort zone. Ongoing feedback is needed to continue the leadership development process. An exchange of ideas and discussions centered on how the training methods are translating into functional business practices will help the learning process continue, long after the official sessions have ended. Once your leaders have embraced these ideas and are accustomed to receiving feedback, they will flourish. Self-development often increases once a strong learning foundation has been created.

by: Troy Truman

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