Developing leaders needs a holistic commitment

For over 20 years I have seen considerable investment in leadership development, but these investments don’t seem to be making a real difference back in the workplace. Why?

The Study of Australian Leadership (SAL), a 20-year research project conducted by the Centre for Workplace Leadership at the University of Melbourne, found that Australian organisations do not have the right leadership or management skills necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

This research concluded that whilst there are some great programs and offerings available to businesses today, they are not supported holistically in the workplace. The most effective companies tend to build leadership development into their very DNA. They don’t just send people on a course and hope for the best, they put systems, processes, cultures, and practices in place that support leaders in their daily development.

Over the past 2 years I have been working with a multinational out of Melbourne committed to taking a holistic approach to leadership development. Our program was designed around the Centre for Creative Leadership, 30 years of research that found that the optimal formula for workplace learning is a 70-20-10 (A blend of challenge assignments – 70%, developmental relationships – 20%, and coursework/training – 10%).

Apart from 3 residential programs that explored the core skills required of the contemporary leader, we embedded 360-degree feedback, coaching and mentoring practices, online learning resources as well as the completion of a challenging group project.

As a result of this program the Australian and New Zealand participants have shown tangible skills development and behavioural change within the workplace.

If you are looking to develop your leadership potential/capability contact us to explore how this program can help you become a leader in your industry.

Extra Resource: 4 strategies to implement in your leadership development programs