Key Components of a Leadership Training Program

Leaders are crucial for the long-term success of any organization. But, contrary to what some may believe, great leaders aren’t necessarily “born.” They can be developed, and your company should be putting effort and resources into training its leaders.
As John Mattone writes, though, many leadership programs end up being major time wasters. Unfortunately, the results of this training don’t always justify the resources expended.
To help ensure that leadership training programs are as effective as possible, Mattone advocates incorporating the following components.
Training on building your “bench.” Leaders are part of the long-term strategic organ of your organization. They need to be taught how to help identify and cultivate the leaders of your company’s future.
Learning about goal setting. Goal setting is about determining what the objectives are and then developing and committing to a process of achieving those objectives.
Improving soft skills. As Mattone notes, soft skills might seem like something “extra,” but they should be considered fundamental. It’s hard to lead people if they simply don’t like you.
Time management training. Time management is critical for leaders for a couple of reasons. For one, leaders are busy and need to know how to effectively manage their valuable time. But they also set a good example for those beneath them when it comes to learning how to do the same.
Learning to delegate effectively. Delegation is one of the foundations of a good leader. Leaders aren’t put in charge because they are the best at doing entry-level tasks. It’s because they are seen as people who can lead others in performing those tasks properly and efficiently. And that requires effective delegation.
The art of giving and receiving feedback. In the business world, we train and learn from our peers, subordinates, and superiors. It’s a constant two-way street towards improving ourselves and our organizations.
Follow-up and/or coaching. When it comes to learning decay—the process of slowly losing knowledge you have just learned—Mattone suggests that coaching and follow-up can help combat this.
Leadership training is necessary to help ensure your organization is successfully managing its succession planning, long-term direction, and strategic goals. But, to maximize the positive impact of this important form of training requires a well-thought-out process that is planned with key goals in mind.
Interested in developing your current staff into becoming future leaders? Join Joan Peterson and Gregg Thompson, of Bluepoint Leadership, as they present the breakout session, HIPO Development Programs: How to Shape High-Potential Talent Through Customized Experiences, at TalentCon 2019. Click here to learn more, or to register, today!