Title: How to Create a Successful Leadership Development Program
Headings: How to Create a Successful Leadership Development Program
How to Create a Successful Leadership Development Program
Beth Thornton
Step 1: Start By Implementing Your Company Values
To Do:
Step 2: Create Measurable Goals For Your Leadership Development Program
Step 3: Make A “Wish List” For Your Leadership Development Program
Step 4: Adaptable On-Demand Leadership Development
Step 5: Shape Your Leaders - Do Not Force Them Into A Mold
Step 6: Integrate Leadership Development Into Your Culture
Step 7: Choose A Leadership Platform

Content: Commonly, an employee may be thrown into a new position, with little interest or knowledge in leading, while others crave to be in a leadership role but lack the confidence or know-how to be promoted. Others may have been great individual contributors and thought that would translate into being an effective leader, only to quickly realize that what helped them as an individual employee is very different than the skills needed to develop others to be successful. Create a leadership program to help leaders develop their skills based on where they are at with their current leadership skill sets. Whether individuals need preparation for a leadership role or would simply like to learn how to become an excellent team member, your program should help shape all team members into the role and type of employee they want to be, rather than simply force every employee to be a leader. Leadership happens in different contexts, and one of the most overlooked contexts is in the context of your individual role. Shaping leaders and team members is not a one size fits all process. Improving the program you have now, and evolving it into a program to support ongoing development for employees will ensure your organization is never short on excellent leaders. Develop a program that is inclusive for your co-workers' strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Leaders aren’t manufactured, they have to be nurtured and developed, even while in a leadership role. Think about how your leadership development program can put future leaders into situations that help them grow and learn as an ongoing practice, rather than a one time or annual event.