It was about three years ago that I recognized key issues that limited almost every leadership development program I had witnessed – programs I saw dozens of other trainers running and programs that I was running.
- Leaders were constrained by old style workbooks. Not that workbooks were bad – but as a toolset, they were never available where and when a leader needed them most. Workbooks weren’t fulfilling the “just in time” need that leaders have in their fast-changing work environment.
- Discipline and accountability were hard to maintain. We’ve all seen the paper-based action plans in coaching and leadership development programs. They are well intended. But, they are put on a shelf and almost never reviewed and revisited. Unfortunately, most action plans are also rarely calibrated with a coachee’s manager to ensure the learning process is aligned with business needs.
- Tracking and reporting outcomes were difficult to measure. Most trainers utilize the typical workshop evaluations (commonly referred to as “smiley sheets” because they do nothing but make a trainer smile) at the end of a workshop or a coaching session. But measuring and understanding actual behavior change created as a result of a training or coaching engagement was almost non-existent.
I knew that addressing these roadblocks would be key to optimizing my leadership programs. What I didn’t know, and could never have imaged, was that the solution would take me on a path that has challenged the status quo in leadership development and pushed me to new heights as a leadership coach. I look forward to sharing more of my journey and introducing you to Coachmetrix. Sign up here to be notified on launch information later this month.
