Intentional Leadership Development
Cathie Leimbach • September 24, 2024
Most leaders aren’t born with the natural ability to lead well. Effective leaders usually result from intentional leadership development. Here are some helpful strategies for developing the mindset and skills for effective leadership:
- Leaders' Buy-In: Ensure leaders fully understand and support the organization’s strategic objectives and initiatives. Their commitment is crucial for success.
- Time and Resources: Dedicate sufficient time and resources to help potential leaders grow. Investing in their development is key to their success.
- Critical Mass Training: Train a significant number of leaders to create a meaningful impact. A larger group of well-trained leaders can drive positive change more effectively.
- Value-Adding Practices: Focus on leadership practices that add the most value. Prioritize skills and behaviors that benefit the organization the most.
- Experiential Activities: Include hands-on activities that shift mindsets and encourage change. Practical experiences are powerful in fostering growth.
- Measure Impact: Regularly measure the overall impact of leadership development efforts. This helps ensure the strategies are effective and making a difference.
By using these strategies, organizations can cultivate strong and effective leaders.
Based on insights from James Hewitt's "Regenerative Performance" Something's not adding up in today's workplace. While companies demand more from their teams, the results tell a concerning story. Research shows that 50% of employees now show clear signs of burnout, and an alarming 73% feel disconnected from their work. James Hewitt, performance expert and author of "Regenerative Performance," points to a critical mismatch. We're asking people to perform at peak levels without giving them what they need to recover and recharge. Think of it like a smartphone. You can't expect your phone to run at full power all day without plugging it in. Yet that's exactly what we're doing to our workforce. We pile on meetings, deadlines, and pressure while cutting back on the very things that restore energy: breaks, development time, and meaningful connection. The solution isn't working less—it's working smarter. Hewitt's research reveals that sustainable high performance comes from balancing intense effort with intentional recovery. Teams that build in time to recharge actually outperform those that push through exhaustion. Smart leaders are already making the shift. They're protecting their people's energy as carefully as they manage their budgets. Because burned-out employees don't just hurt themselves—they hurt the bottom line too. Want to dive deeper into this issue? View The Burnout Crisis to understand the full scope of this workplace challenge. "Sustainable high performance comes from the rhythm of oscillation—not from the intensity of effort alone." —James Hewitt
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