Developing Leaders

Developing talent is an opportunity for every employee to improve and enhance their capabilities.  It provides many “ah-ha” moments.  Sometimes those moments are self-produced.  If not, then the manager needs to facilitate opportunities where new learning meets performance.  Where is the dialogue to measure the new skill?

Some will argue that the initiative belongs to the employee so they can demonstrate their new “skill.”  If that technique was dependable, then organizations would not need coaches or some first line managers.  It is hard for an organization to strut talent and leadership development like a peacock if it does not have features of a learning organization.  Some of those features belong to the employee and others belong to the company – the first line leader.

In the military, there is a saying called “check the checkers.”  Here, that statement means someone must ensure that the front line manager knows and performs his or her leadership tasks.  That recently promoted leader knows the technical skills and probably entered another phase of development.  Therefore, as part of that development, a learning organization has checks and balances in place to ensure that the employee’s new learning is successfully performed in the appropriate business setting. 

There are two human events occurring.  One is an employee learned a new skill and needs to demonstrate the new learning to enhance his performance.  Two, the front line manager needs coaching to build her leadership.  This helps ensure the organization models itself as a learning organization.  That new manager is capable, eager, and willing.  Now she needs attention to connect the dots that says the company provides integrated learning, welcomes individual improvement, and encourages personal commitment.

Do not assume that connecting the process from the mid-level manager to first line leader to employee is automatic.  Who in your organization knows the connections?  Hope is not a technique, so have elements of a learning organization to verify your leadership development program.  Help connect the “ah-ha” moments.