Tag: #ripples

What is a Leadership Development Program?

Posted on | by Tenice Wehmeyer

 

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Introduction:

Leadership development is an important aspect of any organization’s success. Effective leaders can inspire and engage employees, drive innovation, and steer the organization towards achieving its goals. Investing in leadership development can yield significant returns for businesses, from increased employee engagement and retention to improved performance and competitive advantage. In this blog post, we will explore what a leadership development program is, how it works, and how to determine if your business needs one.

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What is a Leadership Development Program?

A leadership development program is a structured approach to help individuals enhance their leadership skills, capabilities and behaviors. It involves a variety of activities, such as initial assessments, training, coaching, mentoring, and self-paced learning. The program is designed to identify areas of development, establish a curriculum to address those needs, and evaluate the program’s impact on individuals and the organization.

The purpose of a leadership development program is to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective leaders. This includes skills such as interpersonal skills, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Leadership development programs can benefit employees at all levels of the organization, from entry-level staff to executives at the very top.

How Does a Leadership Development Program Usually Work?

A leadership development program typically begins with a needs assessment to identify areas of development. This can include surveys, interviews, and performance evaluations. Based on the assessment, a curriculum is designed that addresses the specific needs of the individuals and the organization. The curriculum may include classroom instruction, one-on-one coaching, and even experiential learning activities such as simulations or team-building exercises.

The delivery of the program may vary depending on the organization’s size, budget, and goals. Some organizations may prefer to conduct the program in-house, while others may outsource it to a third-party provider. The program’s duration can also vary, ranging from a few weeks to several months or even years.

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Evaluation is a crucial component of a leadership development program. It allows organizations to measure the program’s effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments. Evaluation can take many forms, such as surveys, feedback from participants and supervisors, and performance metrics.

How Do You Know if Your Business Needs a Leadership Development Program?

While leadership development programs can benefit any organization, there are some signs that indicate your business may need one sooner rather than later:

  1. High Turnover: If your business experiences high turnover rates, it may be a sign that there are leadership issues within the organization. A leadership development program can help identify and address these issues, leading to better employee retention.
  2. Lack of Engagement: If employees are disengaged and not performing at their best, it may be a sign that they do not feel supported or empowered by their leaders. A leadership development program can help leaders develop the skills and behaviors needed to engage their teams.
  3. Difficulty Filling Leadership Positions: If your business has difficulty filling leadership positions, it may be a sign that there is a lack of leadership talent within the organization. A leadership development program can help identify and groom potential leaders for future roles.
  4. Limited Innovation: If your business is struggling to innovate or adapt to changes in the market, it may be a sign that there is a lack of leadership capabilities within the organization. A leadership development program can help leaders develop the skills needed to drive innovation and change.

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Conclusion:

A leadership development program is a structured approach to help individuals enhance their leadership behaviors, skills and capabilities. It can benefit both individuals and organizations in several ways, including improved performance, increased employee engagement and retention, succession planning, and competitive advantage. By investing in leadership development, organizations can ensure they have the talent and capabilities needed to achieve long-term success. If your organization is experiencing any of the signs discussed above, it may be time to consider implementing a leadership development program. By taking the time to develop a comprehensive program and evaluating its effectiveness, you can ensure that your investment in leadership development yields significant returns.

TL;DR

In summary, a leadership development program is a valuable tool that can help businesses develop the leadership behaviors, skills and capabilities necessary for success. The program typically involves assessments, training, coaching, mentoring, and self-paced learning, and is designed to identify areas of development and evaluate the program’s impact. While every organization can benefit from leadership development, signs such as high turnover, disengaged employees, difficulty filling leadership positions, and limited innovation indicate a particular need for a program. By investing in leadership development, organizations can equip their leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to inspire and engage employees, drive innovation, and achieve their goals.

Learn more about Ripple Leadership™ Program

Ripple Leadership™ Program is officially released!

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope you found it informative and valuable as an introduction to leadership development programs. If you’re interested in learning more about leadership development and how it can benefit your organization, we encourage you to explore Wehmeyer Leadership Coaching’s brand new leadership development program, Ripple Leadership™. This program is designed to help leaders at all levels build the behaviors, skills and competencies needed to drive success and achieve their goals. To learn more about Ripple Leadership™ and how it can help your organization, click this link to read more on our website.

We look forward to working with you to create a culture of leadership excellence!

3 Ways to Act during this Crisis, or in any Stressful Environment

Posted on | by Tenice Wehmeyer

 

We are all in the midst of a crisis we’ve never experienced before. Today’s environment is not a result of something you said or did. Today’s crisis was brought upon us by a pandemic few could’ve imagined. As with any stressful situation, you are likely in a fight or flight mode and the stress hormone cortisol is flooding your brain and body.  When this happens, you get tunnel vision, you can’t think clearly, your creativity and ability to solve problems decreases and you aren’t as good at working with others. Awareness and understanding of what’s happening, allows you to take control of how you respond to those around you – the ripples you create. Below, I outline three ways you can act during this crisis – regardless of the environment and your situation.

Many of us are anxious, uncertain and possibly a bit agitated at the current “normal” in our places of work and in our homes – which for many is the same physical space. Maybe you haven’t worked remotely before, maybe helping your kids with distance learning isn’t your forte, and just maybe, you’re in an essential role and have to be at work.

STAYING CALM is one of the best actions you can take when feeling anxious, uncertain and restless during these stormy days. Some find it easier than others to remain calm on a normally stressful day, as well as during a crisis. Regardless, the current situation requires many of us to take a few deep breaths and remember how to stay calm.  For generations, leaders and many parents have advised us to “step back, take a deep breath and relax” during stressful times – because it works. If you don’t currently practice calming techniques, now would be a great time to start.  Begin with simple breathing exercises and build from there. If you have experience with mindfulness, yoga or meditation, now is the time to lean-in to your practice. 

During crises or times of stress, you may feel helpless, powerless or like your hands are tied behind your back. Public officials and other authorities are providing necessary guidelines and restrictions that are critical for your health and wellbeing but may be challenging to your normal business or practices at home. While following these guidelines and restrictions, this is not a time to show weakness, but instead, show control.

TAKE CONTROL over the situation even in unusual times. Whether it’s decision making for your company, your team or your family, now is the time to lead. Many around you may also be scared and feeling helpless or even weak due to their circumstances. You must first, STAY CALM in order to TAKE CONTROL. Taking control requires gathering information, being collaborative and showing empathy which are extremely more difficult when in fight or flight mode. Great dialogue with others involved will allow you to have what you need to TAKE CONTROL and move forward with others beside you.

Trying times often leave you feeling like you are not able to make decisions, are out of options or don’t have a choice of how to lead your company, your teams or even your family. During this pandemic, many choices have been taken away – maybe just temporarily. Regardless, you still have responsibilities to deliver so with each choice removed, you must make a different choice of how to move forward.

EXPLORE CHOICES – Start with the choices that have been removed and explore what options you have to do things differently. Challenge the status quo and look for new ways to accomplish what can no longer be done the same as before. Take this opportunity to innovate and find more efficient ways to operate that you can continue once this crisis is over. When you are exploring your choices, remember to STAY CALM and TAKE CONTROL.  By using the techniques outlined above, you are certain to open up a world of choices to explore.

Don’t allow crisis and stressful environment to impact the way you act, respond or lead. By creating awareness and mitigation strategies, you can STAY CALM, TAKE CONTROL and EXPLORE CHOICES to lead yourself, your company, your team and your family through the most turbulent times.

 

As The Impactful Engagement Architect, I can work with you to gain deep self-awareness of your leadership behaviors, architect a plan to solve your specific leadership challenge or help you build a cohesive leadership team. I would love for you to be highly effective during this crisis and other stressful situations in the future. I can help you know when, where and how to use your ripples so you can create a productive environment by STAYING CALM, TAKING CONTROL and EXPLORING CHOICES with those who matter the most.

I invite you to join my email list where I will continue to deliver valuable leadership tips directly to your inbox.

 

What was your biggest takeaway from this post?  I’m genuinely curious and will reply to every comment below, as always.

Finally, as you were reading this you may have thought of a boss, colleague or someone in your network that would find it useful, please share it with them – I would really appreciate it.