Leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and that means the same goes for leadership development. One survey from Axonify revealed that workers are not only more likely to prefer training that is easy to complete and understand but also 91% are looking for their training programs to be “personalized and relevant.” Starting a journey to create a tailored approach can be daunting at first, but with the right strategies, HR leaders can soon begin equipping leaders with the skills they need to succeed. For HR teams looking to enhance their training programs, explore these strategies for personalized leadership training programs.
Assessing Leadership Potential Through Individualized Assessments
The first step to a personalized leadership training program is identifying leadership potential among employees.
360-Degree Feedback
When searching for leadership potential, HR leaders can implement a 360-degree feedback approach. This can include perspectives from other managers, subordinates, and also clients.
Personality Assessments
Certain personality types are known to make great leaders. Assessments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), DiSC, or the Big Five Personality Test. These tests synthesize the results into specific personality traits that HR teams can then analyze and determine the level of leadership potential.
Behavioral Tests
HR teams can also create simulations or scenario-based evaluations to measure how some employees maneuver leadership challenges. This process can provide insight into real-world decision-making abilities while also highlighting areas that may require additional training.
Customizing Leadership Paths Based on Career Goals
Not all training strategies will highlight an employee’s unique strengths or areas of improvement. Strengths and weaknesses can also vary by career path, so it is crucial to align leadership training with the employee’s career goals.
Career Goal Assessments
Performance reviews are a great opportunity to determine an employee’s career goals. These discussions can lead to sharing career aspirations and opportunities for employees to describe how they would like to be supported in reaching those goals.
Flexible Training
Employees can have varying levels of availability for training, so having an accessible training schedule is also critical. This can include hosting leadership workshops, online courses and certifications, and mentorship opportunities that are tailored to specific aspirations.
Cross-Functional Experience
Employees seeking leadership can benefit from being exposed to how other departments function. Schedule times to allow experiences in multiple departments so that employees can broaden their leadership perspective. This can be tailored to employees as well if they would like to grow into a leadership position for specific departments.
Mentorship and Coaching
Employees can also be paired with mentors or coaches who can guide them through their customized leadership journey. Mentors are a great resource for sharing relevant experiences that will resonate with employees and their career paths.
Incorporating Learning Styles
Effective leadership development must also be tailored to diverse learning styles. Everyone retains information differently, so it is more helpful to have training materials available in different formats. Learning styles can vary between visual materials, auditory lessons, and hands-on, kinesthetic experiences.
HR leaders who acknowledge and cater to these different styles will not only improve knowledge retention but also create a more inclusive learning environment.
Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow
Personalized leadership training is a necessity in today’s evolving workplace. By tailoring training programs to align with employees’ strengths, career goals, and learning styles, HR professionals can unlock the full potential of future leaders. Implementing strategies like individualized assessments, flexible and goal-oriented training paths, and diverse learning formats ensures that leadership development resonates with employees at all levels.
Remember, personalized leadership training isn’t only about skill-building. Instead, it’s about shaping a stronger organization for the future.
