Effective Executive Leadership Training Program
In a world driven by external events, technical development, and generational paradigm shifts, the only constant for leaders is change. To combat this situation, the greatest asset can be continuous learning.
There is so much learning required today. Modern leaders have a wider scope of priorities, need to manage volatility, be thoughtful innovators, and much more. Organizations that understand the importance of learning ensure their sustainability.
Leadership Development
Leadership development is a huge industry and companies globally spend over $60 billion annually on executive leadership programs [1]. However, the returns are not always clear. Management often wonders what these programs achieve for their organizations and if these courses achieve something. Do the learning experiences change participants, and if so, how long are these sustained?
Several studies reveal that under the right circumstances, leadership development can have a positive impact. Let us explore some of these impacts:
- Participants witnessed a 25% increase in their learning and 20% improvement in performance.
- They exhibited almost 28% enhancement in leadership behaviors and an 8% rise in subordinate performance.
- Organizations fostering a culture of leadership training are 4.2 times more likely to outperform their competitors financially.
- Almost 75% of employees leave their jobs as a result of poor leadership and 4 out of 10 are disengaged; these limitations are overcome and organizations can enjoy about a 25% increase in outcomes due to higher engagement and retention.
Key Features Of An Effective Leadership Development Program
A study by Harvard Business Review found that approximately 10% of corporate leadership training expenses delivered concrete outcomes. To address the gap between expenses and outcomes, the following features can increase the benefits of such training:
Focusing On The Complete Growth Of Participants
Leadership development is not about acquiring specific tactical skills but includes learning broader capabilities. These include self-awareness, resilience, adaptability, and others to meet the challenges faced in an evolving business environment. The chosen training programs must ensure participants transform not only their business performance but their entire selves to ensure personal and professional growth.
Offering Opportunities For Self-Reflection
An important feature of effective training is ensuring participants receive the chance the take a pause from their daily routines and reorient their lives, self, and work. The training must provide participants the opportunity to self-reflect and encourage them to determine their purpose. Such pauses encourage participants to find meaning and work towards achieving their personal and professional goals with innovative and strategic thinking.
Acknowledging And Addressing Psychological Barriers
Many people are hesitant when it comes to engaging in self-improvement programs, and this is especially true of those individuals who exhibit a higher sense of self. While having a higher sense of self is not bad, it is possible that such leaders may not be vulnerable and may be unwilling to grow. To overcome such barriers, companies must manage expectations about learning outcomes and offer leaders programs that are appropriate to their personal goals. Additionally, organizations must foster a work culture that encourages development and learning to overcome any psychological barriers.
Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability
Research proves that changes resulting from single events are often not sustainable in the long term. Generally, as individuals adapt to newer realities, short-term improvements do not always result in long-lasting transformations. Measuring short-term improvement is relatively easy; however, companies must ensure the chosen leadership programs are effective in the long run. This requires continuous interventions and reminders to ensure constant engagement and the development of long-term habits.
Alleviating The Chronic Stress Of Participants
Successful executive leadership programs offer participants new direction and focus. This can help in alleviating the stress they eel. Many leaders are unaware of their burnout and a development program can reenergize them, thereby enabling them to return to their daily routines with renewed energy and vigor.
Organizations tend almost exclusively to focus on subjective evaluations and performance outcomes when justifying significant investments in leadership development. However, some of the best programs result in a happiness boost and deeper growth, bringing meaning and vitality to the participants. This is especially true when companies are struggling to maintain employee engagement while facing a large number of local and global challenges. Leadership development in such adverse conditions fosters well-being and drives employee performance and retention.
Conclusion
Companies must focus on exploring multiple, short-duration programs, which may be less expensive and time-consuming, to achieve better results. Without effective implementation, leadership programs may fail.
References:
[1] What to Look for in an Executive Coaching Training Program?
