Promoting leadership and professional development has been on the back burner long enough. 77% of corporations experienced leadership gaps in 2019, and only 5% of businesses have implemented leadership development at all levels. United Training is heavily invested in the leadership and professional development arena, so we thought it appropriate to shed some light on this vast issue impacting companies today. According to DDI, one poorly trained leader costs a company more than $126,000 over a year.
Let's discuss the four core areas of leadership and development and their importance.
Essential Personal and Workplace Skills
Numerous skills can be classified as personal or workplace leadership and development skills, as these skills are understood to be an introduction to business life. Skills such as time management, business etiquette, personal productivity, and advanced business writing are all included in this category. According to Stanford Research Center, 85% of job success comes from excellent soft and people skills. This category is ideal for those looking to build a solid foundation in a new role or for those looking to solidify basic workplace skills such as those mentioned above. Creating a culture of continual learning and professional development is vital to the overall success of any organization. Developing essential personal and workplace skills is a great way to support that culture change.
Communication Skills for the Modern Workplace
3 in 4 employees want their leaders to have practical, transparent communication, so it is safe to say that practical communication skills are critical to leadership. Helping employees through conflicts or issues with productivity quickly boils down to how you choose your words. Communication skills might not come easy for some, but those employees can improve those skills through training and constructive feedback from previous supervisors and team members. Remember, communication is not a one-dimensional skill. Being a great listener is also a large part of effectively communicating and being proficient. This category is outstanding for everyone to continue building their communication skills.
Analytical Skills for the Modern Workplace
We placed different analytical skills in this category, including critical thinking, negotiating, and facilitating. This category is here to help leaders problem solve, manage teams effectively, and develop/grow essential thinking skills. Only 19% of organizations say they are "very effective" at developing leaders, which means even for the most tenured leaders, all employees should be exposed to these skills. Being able to hire from within is a huge advantage, and what better way to set your company up for success than to train your current employees and develop them for future leadership roles.
Leadership for Successful Change and Performance
In our final category, we discuss all the aspects of successfully managing your teams. Coaching, mentoring, and motivating team members are crucial skills for anyone in a leadership or management role. At least 70% of the team's engagement can be explained by having good quality leaders. Managing team productivity through employment is a large part of being a leader, and understanding how to handle this portion of your role effectively can make a huge difference. These leadership and development courses will help even the most experienced leaders understand new ways to motivate their teams.
Takeaways
Strengthening your team with leadership and professional development training and fostering a culture of continual improvement is a winning strategy. Using our four core leadership and professional development training categories, you can quickly pinpoint the courses that most align with the needs of your team. These courses are great for employees of all levels, and it's time to put this area of improvement at the forefront of your company's budget.
Are you looking to transform your business with an experienced, strategic partner? We can help.
May 11, 2022
