Preparing for Development: Making the Most of Formal Leadership Programs

Matrineau, Johnson

• Verlag: Center for Creative Leadership Press
• Jahr: 2001
• ISBN:
  9781604917277
• Thema: Negocios y empresa
• Thema: Liderazgo

If you are scheduled to participate in a leadership development program, or if you're considering such a program, you can substantially increase the benefits to yourself and to your organization by preparing for the development experience. This guidebook will show you how to prepare yourself and how you can help prepare your colleagues and your work environment to make the most of a formal development program.

Preparing Your Motivation

Knowing what to expect from a formal developmental experience is one key to making the most from that experience. Another is being motivated to learn from such an experience. Your attitude shapes your experience. If you find yourself dreading the development program you’re scheduled to attend, try to adjust your attitude so that you can increase the benefits and decrease your resistance. The activities that follow will help you think about and define how motivated you are toward the development program you’re considering.

The Vacationer

Some people eagerly attend development programs because they see them as a pleasant break from work. They like traveling to a different place. They look forward to the social aspects of the program. They welcome a change from the routine. How would you rate your attitude toward participating in the program?

The Hostage

Some people resent being asked or ordered to take part in development programs. They see such training as a distraction from important work. They may think that being selected for development negatively reflects on their work performance. They may think that any training that doesn’t focus on nuts and bolts (computer skills training, for example, or improving financial acumen) is frivolous and a waste of time and money. How would you rate your attitude in this regard?

The Learner

Some people jump at the chance to learn more about themselves and how they can be more effective in their work. They see development programs as a company benefit. They expect to gain useful insights and skills. They are prepared to focus their attention and energy on the program. Where does your attitude lie on this scale?

These simple guides aren’t meant to map all of the factors that go into determining your motivation toward attending a leadership development program. But they can be helpful if you use them as an informal snapshot of your feelings toward attending such a program. Take some time to reflect on your answers. What is it about your scheduled developmental experience that makes you feel this way? What can you do to become more familiar with the program so that you can get more from the experience?

Enhancing Your Motivation

One way you can increase your enthusiasm for a formal developmental experience is to reflect on the benefits. Take some time to think about how such an experience might connect with your career interests, professional concerns, and personal growth. Consider your personal values and how they play out in your work life and your personal life. Use the following checklist to help you focus your reflection on the benefits you might reap from a development program.

A formal development program can provide these benefits and others. By reflecting on what you could be doing better, where you would benefit from new insights, and how you can become a more effective leader, you can begin to see connections between your interests and the aims of the program. Making those connections will enhance your motivation for attending and learning from the experience. If your responses to ...