Developing Leaders at All Levels

Examine some of the innovative methods leading organizations are using to develop leaders throughout their businesses in Developing Leaders at All Levels. Based on a consortium benchmarking study, this report reveals a variety of findings in four scope areas: identifying leadership competencies, finding leaders at all levels, leadership development as a process, and measurement and communication.

KEY FINDINGS

Identifying Leadership Competencies

• Best-practice organizations recognize leadership as a key component of jobs at all levels in the organization.
• Best-practice organizations define leadership by a set of competencies that guide leadership development at all levels.
• The leadership competencies of a best-practice organization uniquely fit the organization, its particular strategy, and its business model.

• Best-practice companies seek "hire-to-grow" leaders at all levels.
• In best-practice organizations, responsibility for leadership development at all levels is shared with the individual employee.

• At best-practice organizations, the key leadership development process is manager-as-coach.
• Developing leaders in best-practice organizations use individual development plans that guide and commit them to growth and progress.
• "Big-ticket" leadership development processes, such as external coaching, action learning, and external executive programs, are reserved for more senior leaders and those deemed high potential.
• Best-practice organizations widely use 360-degree feedback (multi-rater, upward feedback) as a leadership development tool.
• Best-practice organizations use leaders to teach leadership.

• The evaluation method most frequently used at best-practice companies is forming a clear, logical link between the leadership development process and business results.
• At best-practice organizations, there is close communication, both formal and informal, between those who design and deliver leadership at all levels and the sponsors of the efforts.
• Best-practice leadership processes include communication with potential leaders at all levels, not just with corporate sponsors of the effort.