| Let's begin this discussion with me stating that I | | | | leader is given the opportunity to attend. There |
| really am not a subscriber to the theory that a | | | | are any numbers of good leadership training |
| Leader is born, or natural born, since that is the | | | | seminars available, and they can be found by a |
| common term used to describe this claim. I think | | | | simple search on the Internet. Some are well |
| a leader is someone that has awakened to a | | | | within the reach of the budget of even the |
| burning desire to be in charge, to stand out front | | | | smaller companies; others will require some |
| and post the orders. This person may never have | | | | deeper pockets. Some companies that have |
| demonstrated a natural flair for leading. In fact, I | | | | spotted a bright new leader in the ranks will even |
| have known some folks that I never expected to | | | | provide the support for an Executive MBA |
| become leaders, and yet here some years down | | | | program (this may require a promise to remain |
| the way ... they are leading. And many are doing a | | | | on staff at the supporting company for a few |
| good job. So, how did this transformation occur? | | | | years). |
| Leadership training occurred, that is how. These | | | | Some companies believe the way to really train |
| folks went to work, and one day came to the | | | | up and coming leaders is to assign them to leader |
| realization that they could lead the team just as | | | | positions and expect the new leader to swim or |
| well as the person standing out front, and maybe | | | | drown. This is probably the worst approach to |
| even better. But how are we to get there? | | | | leadership training. Companies that do this waste |
| The leadership training that is offered usually | | | | money, and worse, they waste a promising |
| begins with the first leader in the chain of | | | | leader. |
| leadership giving the budding leader some | | | | I would encourage every leader to take the time |
| mentoring, coaching, and providing some feedback | | | | to look closely at the members assigned to their |
| along the way. Another thing that occurs is that | | | | team, and keep track of their performance, |
| mentor will stand in the gap, protecting the | | | | motivation, and attitude. Among the members of |
| mentee while the coaching is on-going. This is | | | | every team are those nuggets in the rough, all |
| critical in the leadership training that is just getting | | | | that is needed is a little care, polishing, and |
| underway. Many are the dangers to new leaders, | | | | challenging to develop a leader. It is so important, |
| and one of the most dangerous is severe | | | | considering the looming departure from the |
| criticism at an inopportune time, so protection is | | | | workforce of all those boomers, that a program |
| necessary. | | | | of developing the next generation of leaders |
| If the new leader is progressing satisfactorily, | | | | occurs. And the better leadership training |
| then the next step in their growth is to point | | | | programs are those that are well thought out, and |
| them to some formal leadership training. This may | | | | structured to nurture the new leaders as they |
| take the form of a formal on-the-job training | | | | emerge to provide that cadre of professional |
| program (and some corporate training office offer | | | | leaders that are really needed to manage our |
| excellent OJT), or some actual seminars the new | | | | teams well into the future. |