A study conducted by The Conference Board discovered that developing leadership skills was one of the biggest challenges CEOs face. The study went on to find that there is a connection between leadership skills and a company’s ability to stay competitive.
Recruiting employees and teaching them leadership skills is becoming increasingly difficult for some organizations. The demographics of the workplace are rapidly changing and a business leadership program needs to adapt for it to be successful.
If you’re having problems implementing a leadership program at work, or aren’t sure why you need one, the following information will help explain their importance to your company.
Keys to a Strong Leadership Development Program
A properly implemented business leadership program will develop strong leaders in your organization. Not all are successful or the right fit for an organization.
Whether you create your own, or send your team to a sponsored program, here are a few keys to ensure your leadership development program is successful:
Have a Clear Program Objective
It’s important to choose a leadership program that is tailored to your business and addresses the company’s goals. For example, a program that focuses on leadership in the tech industry won’t be useful if your business concentrates on packaging. Choose the program carefully before investing the organization’s time, money, and personnel.
If you are developing your own training program, be sure it directly ties into your company’s goals and reflects your core values.
Include the Right People
Not all of your employees want to become leaders, and encouraging them to attend would be a wasted investment. Many organizations have seen a rise in their millennial workforce, and these employees are often your company’s future leaders.
Millennials often want to be coached, not managed, and the best way to help them improve and add new skills is through a leadership program.
Application
Leadership development programs can fail if the skills and ideas taught don’t apply to the workplace. You want to develop or choose a program that includes a curriculum pertinent to the company.
Several courses can be included in a program that range from strategic planning and emotional intelligence to employee onboarding and even how to correctly debrief someone after a task is completed. Choose courses that will help your business stay competitive and your employees grow. Ignore the programs that sound interesting but won’t help develop strong leaders.
Keep it Interesting
Don’t bore your future leaders by keeping program courses in a classroom setting the entire time. Mix up the training with book clubs, small group activities, and other creative planning. Be sure to include time for employees to relax and learn something about and from each other.
Capitalize on fun team-building exercises that allow employees to learn skills while also enjoying each other’s company.
Why Join Leadership Programs
There are several reasons why joining a leadership program makes sense, whether you’re an employee or in upper-management. A great leadership program will teach you the techniques and skills that will give you a new perspective when facing difficult situations, and give you the confidence needed to tackle workplace challenges.
You will learn which areas you need to improve upon, whether it’s communication, how to think clearly and concisely when managing a problem, or something you’ve never before considered. You will also be surrounded by other leaders who are willing to share their experiences and insight.
While every leader makes mistakes - it’s human nature - a business leadership program can help prevent you from making common ones. You’ll have an understanding of the pitfalls and traps that can end a career.
A leadership program will also show you how to build an effective team and communicate your ideas and goals to them.
So, why join a leadership program? To sum it up, it will help you become a better employee, team player, and teach you the skills you need to have a successful career in leadership.
Coach Tomorrow’s Leaders With Work-Fit
A business leadership program is an excellent way to create new leaders in your organization. It can also be a fun learning experience for the employees who participate.
At Work-Fit, we understand why joining leadership programs is crucial for your organization’s continued success, and we’re here to help you. Do you have questions on how to find a relevant business leadership development program?
Contact Work-Fit today and find out all of the ways we can help your business grow while fostering the next generation of leaders.
