Onsite Programs /
Leaders in Action: Developing Mid-Level Managers Training
Leaders in Action
Developing Mid-Level Managers into Leaders through Action Learning Leadership Development
Most organizations struggle with how to
develop mid-managers to leadership roles. Though leadership as a
discipline can be abstract, inconsistent and vague, expectations
of leaders are more clear. We expect leaders to make decisions
with an enterprise perspective—decisions that add value to the
bottom line and inspire employees to achieve a congruent
organizational vision.
Leaders in Action is a six-to-twelve month
action learning Leadership Development Program in which a small
group (12-16) of high potential managers work in teams to envision,
to sell to senior executives, and to implement a real project that
can increase revenue or decrease cost significantly.
We use real business projects that teach
managers through practical application to:
- Be more innovative, have a big-picture
view of the organization, and create a more motivating work
environment.
- Take action, implement effectively, and
get results.
Individuals receive training, supervision, and
coaching to develop leadership skills as they work through the
process of initiating and implementing a significant “initiative” in
their organization.
We don’t use the terms “leadership” or
“development”; we refer to the program as “running the business,”
and we approach it accordingly. We take an action-learning approach
to teach leadership so that the program and learning integrates with
a manager’s day-to-day work.
Small teams are created and select a
project that has clear value to the organization. They will meet
monthly for six to twelve months depending upon the scope.
- Teams are supervised and coached as they
build a business plan that they will present to the executive
team.
- Their proposed project must add to
revenue or decrease costs by an appropriate amount for the
situation. (At one organization the bottom line impact generated
by team projects was $6m.)
- Plans include an implementation strategy,
ROI, and forecast of how the project fits into the broader
organizational objectives and vision.
Plans are evaluated by
company executives and accepted or declined based on criteria and
processes used to evaluate any other proposal. Once proposals are
accepted, we work with teams on implementing the projects,
influencing for initiative support, and managing the politics of the
project.
During ongoing monthly sessions teams
debrief, learn new tools and techniques, and learn from each other’s
experiences. Management and business acumen content is modular and
provided on a just-in-time basis to support teams at each step as
their project develops. The innovative and flexible curriculum meets
the immediate learning needs of teams and individuals. An executive
mentor is assigned to each team to help them understand how the
company "really works" and how to get things done in their
particular organization.
For the individual, a
program-specific executive 360 assessment is used at the beginning,
middle, and end of the program to assess participant needs and
growth. The true measure of the team’s success is the completion of
their team project and how well it met or exceeded initial proposal
expectations.
As a result of this intense program,
participants will have applied “on the job” skills. They will be
able to:
- Identify opportunities that add real,
bottom-line value to the business.
- Develop, pitch, and sell their business
plan to key stakeholders and decision makers.
- Formulate audience-specific value
propositions for their project.
- Influence key players to work on their
projects—even when there is no reporting relationship to them.
- Navigate workplace politics effectively.
- Perform risk management for their project
and manage expectations for all those involved.
- Deliver and maintain a positive
communication process regarding their project to all levels of
the organization.
- Become adept at presenting project
updates, adjusting for audience.
- Drive the agreed-upon dollar amount in
revenue increases or cost reductions.
- Take the current project, identify other
opportunities that rise from it, and replicate successes on
future projects.
Mid-Level Managers showing high potential.
To speak with an LSA Expert and learn about
training program customization and delivery options onsite at your company, please contact us.
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