When organizations invest in leadership development, they inspire improvement at every level. Even the most knowledgeable employee base can’t function under poor leadership, while effective leaders can motivate and energize groups with varying levels of competence.
Leadership Training Increases Productivity
A Manchester Consulting Group Fortune 100 study showed that companies displayed the following results from leadership training:
- Return on investment was nearly six times the program cost.
- Workplace relationships improved by 77 percent.
- Teamwork improved by 67 percent.
- 51 percent of employees reported greater job satisfaction.
- Overall quality improved by 48 percent.
Consistent leadership helps all employees be more effective at their jobs. Leadership training brings out the best in individuals and teams.
Improved Morale
In many cases, people receive management roles because they excelled at lower level tasks. They understand what employees need to know or do, but they aren’t necessarily able to communicate that knowledge. Just because someone is a good salesman, technician or warehouse worker, this doesn’t necessarily the same person will be an effective leader.
Upper level staff members assume because they were good in previous roles they will automatically develop the skills necessary for leadership. Poor communication and difficulty adjusting create problems between leadership and the employees they used to rub shoulders with.
Leadership development makes managers into coaches. They learn the key skills they need to motivate, influence and encourage. As they practice what they’ve learned, staff feels valued and supported.
Increase Engagement
When Gallup measured and reported on U.S. workplace and engagement, they found the following results:
- Fewer than one-third of Americans feel engaged in their jobs.
- Managers account for 70 percent of variance in engagement scores.
- Having a bad manager makes employees dislike work and feel stress while at home.
- Employees are three times as likely to be engaged when they have regular, meaningful communication with managers.
- Employees are more likely to stay engaged when managers help them set performance goals.
- When managers focus on strengths, employees report being 67 percent more engaged.
Leadership training helps management give meaningful feedback and effective training. New employees learn their responsibilities faster, become a part of company culture and remain engaged throughout their employment.
Provide Effective Feedback
Most organizations have an evaluation system for employees. The idea is to recognize achievement and offer suggestions for growth, but managers often don’t know how to offer constructive, respectful feedback. Training helps them become coaches, not critics.
Improved feedback states clear expectations for improved performance. It becomes a conversation that helps leadership identify areas for future professional growth. When team members recognize management wants to partner with them in achieving their career goals, employee retention and loyalty improve.
Training encourages leaders to develop resources like resilience and optimism, builds psychological resources for effective problem management, and teaches people to communicate effectively. Find out how MindSpring incorporates training and development to help your organization move forward by contacting us today.
