{"id":11198,"date":"2019-01-07T17:15:33","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T23:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/where-have-all-the-leaders-gone\/"},"modified":"2019-01-07T17:15:33","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T23:15:33","slug":"where-have-all-the-leaders-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/where-have-all-the-leaders-gone\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Have All The Leaders Gone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe No. 1 leadership challenge for CEOs today is developing \u201cnext-gen\u201d leaders, according to DDI\u2019s \u201cGlobal Leadership Forecast 2018\u201d (produced in partnership with The Conference Board and EY).<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the last two years, North American businesses have invested more in internal learning programs to halt the talent crisis and prepare the people they already have in house than anything else. And the No. 1 focus of their learning agendas is management and leadership skills.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn my own consulting work, I continue to bump into young, progressive individuals in the companies I serve, who are no longer just taking a management or leadership curriculum program. My interaction with these leaders often occurs after they\u2019ve taken their learning development courses. That\u2019s when the validation of their leadership skills is proven. Senior leaders will charge them to find out information on a particular strategic concern, then develop an action plan, and report back and make a presentation with their recommendations. These go-getters are on track to be the leaders of tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\n\tWHO ARE EMERGING LEADERS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tEligibility for inclusion in emerging leadership programs typically requires being identified as a high-potential performer or a person who desires to develop leadership skills in order to move up the ladder.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith the need for greater diversity on the leadership spectrum, more female manager candidates are being sought out. Diversity also is needed across generational and ethnic representation, as well as by specific skills. Emerging leaders also can include senior team leads or emerging executives with direct reports, who require better skills for greater leadership, abilities to enhance performance, and stronger influence within their companies.<\/p>\n

\n\tTRAINING EMERGING LEADERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tHow are you doing with training your emerging leaders? Hopefully, you\u2019ll be better than the 35 percent of the companies that don\u2019t even have a program to develop high-potential employees. The scary part is, of those companies that have a high-potential or emerging leaders learning program in place, only 55 percent actually measure the effectiveness of these programs.<\/p>\n

\n\tAs I have reviewed many emerging leadership programs, I am impressed with the degree of focus on people skills with an emphasis on empathy, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. At the same time, they also develop obvious leadership capabilities and digital competencies, such as learning to make data-driven decisions.<\/p>\n

\n\tLeaders still need to learn how to inspire and motivate a diverse and inclusive workplace of employees. They must be skilled in managing downward, upward, and laterally to achieve desired results. Presenting their ideas effectively will always be essential. Likewise, the ability to network with others to influence collaboration and support needed for implementing new ideas and changes must be learned.<\/p>\n

\n\tClassroom training is helpful for leadership candidates to learn principles and skills together with a group of like-minded peers. They get to see who their future leadership partners might be. Leaders and instructors can evaluate learners\u2019 progress in applying leadership principles and meeting assigned commitments.<\/p>\n

\n\tHowever, experiential learning is required to know the true strength of a potential leader. Having them implement and integrate their newly acquired skills into a real-world work situation helps confirm who the real leaders of tomorrow will be.<\/p>\n

\n\tSelf-directed learning programs\u2014through online courses, book reading, and assignments\u2014is another method. These learners face the added challenge of taking such courses on top of current daily workloads. This allows insight into a candidate\u2019s self-discipline, perseverance, and aptitude in dealing with more pressure-filled work demands.<\/p>\n

\n\tRECOMMENDATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tHere are some adapted recommendations from the \u201cGlobal Leadership Forecast 2018\u201d\u2014 consider them as you review your emerging leader learning programs:<\/p>\n