Leadership development isn't a one-time event, but a cultural cornerstone. Discover how to weave it into your company's fabric, fostering an environment where every team member can grow into a potential leader.
Bottom Line
We need to nurture and develop young, engaged leaders to fill roles Boomers and Gen X will be stepping out of in the future.
- Organizations are missing the mark on leadership development
- Only 35% of U.S. managers are engaged in their jobs
- The disengaged manager epidemic not only affects this generation but also trickles down to the young people these leaders manage
- Gallup refers to this as the “cascade effect”
- An employee’s engagement is directly influenced by their manager’s engagement, which in turn is directly affected by the manager’s engagement
Identify leadership strengths
The easier current managers and employees can spot these talents among their peers and within themselves, the sooner they can cultivate them.
- Provide employees with the tools necessary to identify and craft their natural talents to be used for leadership
- Try an app like IlluminatedNation to help you find your unique aptitude.
Use your strengths
Create opportunities every day for employees to do what they do best so they feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose while working toward being a leader
- If Bobby is shy but a brilliant problem solver, ask him for his best ideas to resolve a complex issue without putting the spotlight on him during the meeting.
Clearly communicate vision
The perception of limited opportunities is a big factor in disengagement
- Help employees understand the organization’s overall vision so they can look at their job from a new perspective
- Demonstrate how their role positively affects their peers and the organization’s goals
Create a culture of learning and development
Make employees aware of any growth opportunities right in front of them
- Train employees to invest in one another
- Encourage seasoned employees to mentor newer employees
- Employees who have been at the organization a few months can help mentor brand new employees
