Strong organisations have strong leaders. And we’re talking about more than one, single figure, like an MD or CEO, or Chairman, to spearhead decision-making.
We’re talking about capable people employed across all departments. A leadership team. ✨
You’ll see this across all sectors and organisations.
Both private and public.
From multinational commercial powerhouses, like Google and Amazon, to local public school districts, there’s generally a team of leaders in place to communicate information, motivate people, solve problems, resolve conflicts, and generally, make sure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities, and is pulling together to meet a common goal.
Everyone is on a voyage together. It’s a team effort. 💪
For fun, let’s look at the leadership team of a ship sailing the seven seas during the Golden Age of piracy (1650-1720).
To successfully plunder for gold, a pirate ship would likely have a Captain, Quartermaster (the second in command), and a Sailing Master (the person in charge of sailing the ship).
There’s also likely to be a Boatswain (someone in charge of maintenance and supplies), a Surgeon or Carpenter (interestingly enough, often the same person), and a Master Gunner (the person in charge of the weapons aboard the ship.) 🏴☠️ 🚢
This is the leadership team. 🚀
One that’s integral to making sure that everything is plain sailing.
But here’s something that’s seldom talked about, good leadership teams are developed.
Let’s look at this in a little more detail below.👇
What is Leadership Team Development?
Leaders aren’t born. They’re made.
With the help of concerted L&D.
Sure, some people have a natural affinity for leadership, a set of personality characteristics and inherent traits like confidence, vision, optimism, decisiveness, passion, and more, that make them more predisposed to being leaders.
But leaders are, generally, made by experiences and self-development. 🤔
Leaders in the workplace have a powerful impact.
They are decision-makers and opinion-makers.
They are who others rely on to steer the ship towards the shores of prosperity.
They empower everyone to perform to their highest level, navigating adverse market, and even economic conditions and weighing anchor in profitable shores which benefit everyone. ⚓
Organisations that develop leaders across all areas, including L&D, equip themselves with people capable of meeting professional, personal, and organisational ambitions.
But in a more straightforward sense, invest in leadership team development and you’ll reap the rewards listed below. 👇
Enhanced Collaboration
Leadership team development activities encourage leaders to work together, fostering a collaborative environment where different perspectives are valued.
Having your first mate aboard to help make decisions, even take command if a captain is unable to fulfil their duties, results in better decision-making and problem-solving. 🙌
Improved Communication
People capable of clearly communicating inspire others. Good team development programmes focus on improving communication skills to help leaders articulate what they’re thinking, actively listen, and provide valuable opinions and constructive feedback.
The results of this?
Effective and efficient organisation-wide communication. 📣
Strategic Thinking
When a leader can think strategically, they can design a clear vision for the present and future of their team and its impact on the organisation.
They’re able to manage situations that arise from unforeseen circumstances and make decisions to empower colleagues, even in the event of setbacks, ultimately driving sustainable growth. 📈
An Environment Rich in Innovation
An organisation with a team of leaders creates an environment where ideas are welcomed and encouraged.
Successful leadership team development programmes often stimulate activities rich in creative thinking and problem-solving, often spearheaded by team leaders.
This fosters innovation across individual teams and throughout the wider organisation.
Trust and Cohesion
A leadership team that invests in development together will build trust and become a cohesive unit.
This has many benefits, including creating a sense of camaraderie which ultimately results in increased collaborative efforts, collective problem-solving, communication, and employee satisfaction. ☺️
10 Reasons Why Leadership Development is Important
Leadership development can have a profound impact on people’s career development and personal growth.
Regardless of which step on the career ladder people are or how fulfilled they are in their personal lives, investing in leadership development skills, like decision-making, conflict resolution, succession planning, and more, will ultimately benefit individuals, professionally and personally, and the organisation.
Below we’ve outlined 10 reasons why every organisation should focus on leadership development across all areas of the business. 🏆
Keep reading to learn what advantages you could be missing out on if you choose NOT to invest in leadership team development.
Enhanced Decision-Making
- Diverse perspectives: an effective, efficient leadership team features a range of diverse perspectives. This results in comprehensive and effective decision-making
- Collaboration: building a team of confident, capable people encourages collaboration and collective problem-solving solving which ensures that balanced decisions which consider multiple viewpoints are made
Increased Organisational Performance
- Alignment: a strong leadership team helps an organisation to unite to meet an organisation’s vision, mission, and strategic goals, driving overall performance
- Efficiency: strong leaders can streamline processes, improve operational efficiency, and drive productivity 💸 💸
Succession Planning
- Future leaders: having a team of leaders capable of filling duties and roles when needed minimises disruptions during transitional periods
- Continuity: promotes leadership continuity which is critical for maintaining organisational culture and stability ✌️
Employee Engagement and Retention
- Motivation: strong leadership teams inspire and motivate employees, and this results in higher levels of engagement and success
- Retention: good leaders will create a positive working environment which can help organisations reduce staff turnover, and even retain top-tier talent
Adaptability and Innovation
- Change management: emphasising leadership development as part of L&D allows organisations to prepare and manage change, navigating crises, and fostering overall leadership resilience and adaptability
- Innovation: cultivating strong leadership through development encourages an innovative culture, one that’s willing to take calculated risks and support creative initiatives 📊
Strategic Value and Execution
- Clarity: workplace leaders who can articulate and communicate a clear strategic vision can ensure that the organisation is continually collectively working towards the same goal together
- Execution: when everyone understands the organisation’s vision and objectives, they’re able to better execute work to achieve goals
Conflict Resolution
- Mediation skills: trained, experienced leaders are better equipped to handle team disputes and conflicts, maintaining harmony and focus 🤝
- Problem-solving: organisations that have invested in developing leaders can typically address and resolve issues promptly
External Relations and Reputation
- Stakeholder management: strong leadership teams can effectively manage stakeholder relationships, including investor, customer, and partner relationships
- Reputation: implementing robust leadership across all areas of the organisation boosts reputation, attracting more organisational opportunities and top-tier talent 💰
Personal Development
- Growth opportunities: leadership development programmes provide personal growth opportunities for individuals, enhancing their skills and career prospects
- Confidence and competence: being a leader boosts people’s confidence and competence, encouraging them to take on and master new challenges and responsibilities
The Steps to Develop a Leadership Team
A strong leadership team will give your organisation an operational and strategic advantage.
This is obvious.
However, what’s less obvious is the steps organisations need to take to develop a leadership team capable of meeting your short-and-long-term objectives. 🏢 👏
Unsure about how to develop a leadership team?
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
Keep reading below and you’ll find a step-by-step guide that explains how your organisation can develop its own leadership team. One that will steer your organisation to profound success. 🥇
Step one: assess current leadership capabilities
- Identify strengths and weaknesses: evaluate the current skills, experience, and performance of current organisational leaders to understand their strengths and any areas for improvement 💭
- Use assessment tools: implement leadership assessment tools, such as 360-degree feedback, personality assessments, and performance reviews to understand performance
Step two: define leadership competencies
- Identify key competencies: determine the essential leadership skills and behaviours needed to achieve the strategic goals of the organisation
- Align organisational values: ensure core competencies align with the organisation’s values, culture, and mission
Step three: set clear objectives
- Establish goals: define clear, measurable objectives for leadership development that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities 🧐
- Create a development plan: design a comprehensive plan outlining the steps, resources, and timeline needed to achieve the organisation’s goals 🕙
Step four: design individual learning plans
- Conceive personalised development plans: generate tailored development plans for each leader, focusing on their specific needs and career aspirations
- Set milestones: agree short-and-long-term milestones to track progress and keep individuals motivated ⏱️ 💵
Step five: implement training programs
- Formal training: offer formal training programs, such as workshops, seminars, and courses on leadership knowledge and skills
- On-the-job training: provide opportunities for leaders to develop their skills through real-world experiences, such as special projects or cross-functional roles
Step six: encourage mentoring and coaching
- Mentorship programs: pair emerging leaders with experienced mentors who can offer guidance, support, and feedback 🙋
- Coaching: leverage professional coaches to help leaders to develop specific skills, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals
Step seven: foster team building and collaboration
- Team-building activities: organise activities that promote trust, communication, and collaboration within the leadership team
- Cross-functional projects: encourage leaders to collaborate with other people when undertaking cross-functional projects to understand different areas of the business and build strong working relationships 💪
Step eight: share regular feedback and evaluation
- Continuous feedback: establish a feedback culture so leaders can receive regular, constructive advice to improve their performance
- Performance reviews: conduct regular reviews to assess leadership skills and abilities, recognise achievements, and identify areas for improvement
Step nine: promote a learning culture
- Continuous learning: motivate leaders to seek and acquire more knowledge to bolster their skillsets
- Learning resources: make it easy for leaders to access valuable resources, such as books, online sources, webinars, and industry conferences 📚 🖥️
Step ten: monitor progress and adjust plans
- Track development: observe and scrutinise leaders’ development progress against individual KPIs and professional growth
- Be flexible: fine-tune individual development plans and strategies, based on evolving organisational needs, feedback, and the organisation’s needs
Step eleven: recognise and reward leadership growth
- Celebrate successes: nurture professional growth by recognising and rewarding individual and team successes to promote sustained motivation
- Incentivise and reward: give leaders incentives and rewards when they demonstrate significant growth and contribute to the organisation’s success 💱
Strong Organisations Focus on Leadership Development in 2024
“Leadership and learning are indispensable from one another.” – John F. Kennedy. 👨🦰
A wise quote from one of history’s most famous men. And it couldn’t be truer.
Develop a team of leaders and your workplace will excel…the alternative?
A group of directionless people, working independently, unable to make decisions and step up to the plate when needed.
All organisations benefit from strong leaders.
From the crew of a salty, sea-faring buccaneers to a team of passionate people, looking to change the online L&D landscape forever, like those at Thirst.
Sure, there’s a hierarchy. A structure. One where some people have more responsibility than others.
The CEO doesn’t have the same function as the Head of Operations, right? The captain doesn’t have the same responsibility as the deckhand, right? 🧑💼
However, strong leadership team development is more than duties and responsibilities.
It’s a mindset.
Sure, it’s unlikely that the office junior will be able to step into the chairman’s shoes if he or she is unable to fill their role, just as a deckhand would likely flounder if thrust into a position to make decisions for the good of the crew in the captain’s absence.
But a chairman who invests in his or her teams across the whole organisation, building their confidence, skills, and aptitude can rest easy that the organisation will be in safe hands should they have to step away.
This is the benefit of leadership development.
A culture of capable, willing, and productive people.
This builds a strong, resilient, unified organisation. One capable of meeting objectives. Weathering any storm. Navigating unchartered waters. Thriving in a competitive environment or tumultuous circumstances. The best way to do this? Promote learning. Step-by-step.
The alternative?
Well, you may just discover the torrential professional waters too difficult to steer a course through.
Remember, an organisation that isn’t developing leaders and thriving will likely be heading in the opposite direction. Battered by the tide. Even capsizing and sinking to the ocean floor.
Develop a team of leaders, from L&D to operations, finance to marketing and you’ll be able to easily navigate any commercial headwind. ⛈️ 🙂
Got 2 Minutes?
If your organisation is suffering as a result of disengaged learners, then Thirst can help. 🔥
As an AI-powered learning platform, Thirst is empowering L&D teams big and small to level up learner engagement and create learning experiences designed for the modern learner.
Take the guided tour today and see Thirst in action.
For more e-learning insights, resources and information, discover the Thirst blog.
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