| What goes into a good leadership development | | | | those involved to practice their leadership skills. |
| program? That's a question more and more | | | | Leadership isn't a merely academic concept. It's a |
| organizations are asking as they prepare to make | | | | real life tool and it can only have value when it's |
| leadership a priority. Recent survey data indicates | | | | used. That doesn't mean that potential future |
| that more businesses than ever have created and | | | | leaders should be promoted to high-ranking |
| are maintaining development programs and many | | | | positions ahead of their preparation. It does mean |
| more are sure to follow suit. What do they need | | | | that the organization should prioritize the creation |
| to do be successful? | | | | of opportunities within their existing framework |
| Let's look at some key components of quality | | | | for those individuals to spread their wings. |
| leadership development efforts. | | | | Finally, proper leadership development requires |
| First, they start by creating a system to identify | | | | follow-up and consistent analysis. An organization |
| potential leaders within the organization. The smart | | | | shouldn't just put a plan in place and then hope |
| companies don't wait for new leaders to grow | | | | that it produces some great future leaders. |
| organically. They realize that an interest and a gift | | | | Instead, the program should constantly reinforce |
| for leadership is a rare and very precious | | | | the message and administrators should look at it |
| commodity that should be discovered early and | | | | and its participants closely to provide the best |
| encouraged to bloom. As such, anyone who's | | | | opportunity for overall success. |
| serious bout leadership development needs to | | | | Leadership development is becoming a higher and |
| create a means by the organization can identify | | | | higher priority for businesses. They're realizing just |
| and groom potential future leaders. | | | | how essential quality guidance and direction can be. |
| Second, good development programs aren't just a | | | | As they build their own programs, they should |
| matter of an occasional meeting and a pat on the | | | | keep these four components of successful |
| shoulder. They consist of carefully laid out | | | | programs clearly in mind. The best programs will |
| systems through which the potential future | | | | isolate prospects, provide them with educational |
| leaders will work and grow. That includes the | | | | resources, give them opportunities to "strut their |
| utilization of in-house and off-site resources to | | | | stuff" in real-world situations and will follow up in |
| encourage skill development. | | | | order to assist participants and to improve the |
| Third, the best programs make a point of allowing | | | | overall program. |