Building a Culture of Leadership Talent

Building leadership talent is crucial for high-performing organizations. Companies need talented people with the global mindset, competencies and commitment to execute strategy both today and in an increasingly unknown future.

Individualized leadership development is challenging and experiential. It broadens skills, builds expertise and provides an opportunity to work in other locations and cultures. It tests judgment, gives autonomy and promotes visibility.

The goal is to grow a culture of leadership development with the right learning and practice. This can include a range of approaches:

  • Accelerating development for a high performer.
  • Providing the support needed to help a successor make a transition.
  • Giving seasoned executives new learning to remain current.
  • Ensuring that emerging talent is given the right leadership education from a leading firm.

Seven Steps for Growing A Culture of Leadership Talent

Step 1: Commit

 Responsibility starts with the CEO and top executives and transfers to managers at all levels.

Step 2: Identify

 Use reliable, valid competencies and criteria to identify and source high-performance and high-potential candidates for the talent pool. Validate nominations across the organization.

Step 3: Assess

 Know the people that make up the talent pool in terms of their strengths, potential, personality derailers, and drivers, plus how these may meet future needs.

Step 4: Develop

 Provide the right development, assignments, learning experiences, coaching, and feedback to assist the individuals in the talent pool to work toward an enhanced capability. Be forthcoming and transparent.

Step 5: Forecast

 Keep the future in mind in terms of business needs, shifts in regional market share, individual potential and development, and demographic and social changes.

Step 6: Execute

 Action is needed, with discipline and focus, to produce ongoing results.

Step 7: Track

 Monitor, measure, and reality-check to ensure that the processes continue to produce a sustainable leadership pool.
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