Leadership Development - what is it, and how can it help me?

What is leadership development?

Many people think that leadership is all about getting other people to do things.  This may be part of the truth, but it is only part of the truth.  If we focus only on other people when thinking about how we lead, then we are missing the other half of the equation - ourselves.  In order to lead others effectively over time, we need to start with a certain amount of self-awareness.  Once we have that, we also have more choices in how to behave as leaders.  Then we better serve the challenge and the people we are leading.

How does leadership development add value?

In many businesses, it is no longer possible for a single individual to hold all the knowledge and information required to make good decisions. Business is full of change, uncertainty, and ambiguity.   We all have partners and stakeholders now.  Even in relatively small organizations the boss can no longer know everything.  You can only call yourself a leader if others follow you.  A couple of questions are worth asking in this context.

• Do others follow you? (Or do they say 'Yes', but then go away and quietly ignore and resist your instructions?)
• Why do others follow you? Do you inspire them? Or do you scare them?
• What is your leadership style? How would you describe it? How would others describe it? (What matters is not how you define it, but how others experience it.)

Through a mix of practical group exercises, theory and discussion, participants can develop some new skills.  At the same time they will learn much about themselves .

What are the outcomes and benefits of leadership development?

• Self-awareness: a clear picture of strengths and weaknesses as a leader
• Impact: feedback from others on one's impact as a leader
• Intention: thinking about the impact one wants to have as a leader, and taking responsibility for any gap between what was intended and the actual impact experienced by others
• Improved problem-solving and decision-making: knowing when it is better to let go and allow others to take charge
• Better relationships: understanding what motivates others

How does leadership development contribute to organizational goals?

In many businesses, it is no longer possible for a single individual to hold all the knowledge and information required to make good decisions. Business is full of change, uncertainty, and ambiguity.   We all have partners and stakeholders now.  Even in relatively small organizations the boss can no longer know everything.

The first job of directors is to provide direction and vision.  Their second job is to let go, so that others can lead the company in the direction that has been set and make the vision reality.  In order for this to happen, leadership needs to happen at all levels in an organization.

When leadership skills are drawn out in all members of the organization - rather than concentrating them in a privileged few -  businesses are more agile, more creative, more responsive and more profitable.