Leadership decisions and the development of strong leaders have always been important, but the rapidly changing business environment and global war for talent now make internal leadership development crucial for enterprise success and sustainability.
The definition of leadership varies, but the actions are distinctive. Leadership signifies the act of making a difference. It requires making active choices among plausible alternatives, and it depends on bringing others along – mobilizing them to get the job done. Leadership is at its best when the vision is strategic, the voice persuasive and the results tangible.
All leaders must be ready for those moments when their leadership is on the line, when the fate of others depends on the choices made in those moments. Perhaps only a few will be touched by the decisions that are made at such critical junctures; perhaps the number will be many. Either way, leaders must be prepared to seize those opportunities. One of the most effective ways to prepare for such challenges is to look at what others have done when their own leadership was tested – examine their experiences, and ask what they did right and what they could have done differently.
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Adult learners bring experiences and self awareness to learning that younger learners generally do not. Understanding adult learning theory and employing instructional design methodology that considers the various adult learning styles is critical to building an effective leadership development initiative. In creating a leadership development program for its senior leaders, PSCU chose to partner with McBride & Lucius, a consulting firm with deep expertise in the design and facilitation of high-impact leadership development initiatives.
PSCU's Dare to Lead program is a journey of self-exploration during which participants and senior level leaders gain clarity into their strengths and opportunities for development as leaders. Leaders are carefully selected for the program based on performance and potential. The program helps participants ready themselves for everyday tests of leadership when their actions – large or small – will shape the future of others. Read on for a behind-the-scenes look at the Dare to Lead program.
Learning From History
Dare to Lead guides participants on a journey that examines leaders throughout history who faced critical leadership challenges. Each account reveals the story of individuals who faced turning points, and how those people led when it counted most. Whether shepherding a crew, a company or a country, the program explores each leader's critical juncture and the climactic events that follow. The primary text utilized is The Leadership Moment by Michael Useem, director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at The Wharton School.
Hands-On Learning
Dare to Lead includes a hands-on, experiential component that takes place midway through the program. The Apollo Experience is coordinated by McBride & Lucious and led by a small team of NASA-approved facilitators. This component provides unique access to the Johnson Space Center in or the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants learn about the various space missions and key leadership takeaways from each, including a behind-the-scenes look at how leaders who changed the course of history stayed calm under extreme stress, created technology where none existed before and led their teams from crisis to triumph. The Apollo Experience also provides participants with the opportunity to put the skills learned into practice in their own work environment.
Measures of Success
The first Dare To Lead cohort will complete the program in December 2016. Key measures that PSCU will use to gauge the overall success of the program include:
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Enhanced collaboration through peer network and interaction with other leaders within the organization;
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Added breadth and depth of leadership savvy;
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Increased retention of high-potential leaders;
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Heightened motivation and leadership skills of participants; and
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Increased talent pool size and amplified readiness for future leadership openings.
The decisions and actions of those above, beside and below a leader at any given time are important as organizations face challenges or require redirection. Yet it is at these very moments when developing leadership is least practical. This is why the development investment must happen now – to proactively prepare leaders for critical leadership decisions when they come.
Lynn Heckler is EVP/chief talent officer at PSCU. She can be reached at (727) 571-7995 or [email protected].
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