Senior leaders in organizations often ask me what program I have or what programs are on the market that will get their emerging leaders developed most quickly and ready to take on a new role. While I would love to deliver one of my programs and thousands of other leadership consultants, coaches and trainers would too, the one “program” that must happen first is the “Be with” program and the only one that can deliver it is you.
While skill development, training, coaching and programs are important elements of a leader’s development, they cannot replace the personal investment you make in emerging leaders.
Think about those who made a profound impact on your development and the behaviors they exhibited towards you. Whether they made the investment for a reason, a season or a lifetime, you were enrolled in their “Be With” program.
The “Be With” program includes…
- Getting to know them personally
- Spending time outside the context of work commitments, responsibilities and stress
- Expressing to them that you are interested and care about their development
- Relating to their struggles
- Sharing your own journey as a leader
- Walking with them through a challenging time
Admittedly, committing yourself to these efforts with one or more leader takes more of your time and energy than sending them to a training session or workshop, but the return on the investment is immeasurable. The ROI will include their passion, commitment, loyalty, creativity and effort. Those are things you can never buy or demand, but can only be volunteered.
These efforts also open up the door for you to lay into the emerging leaders the direction, advice and mentoring around critical thinking, vision setting and casting, skilled communication and the other leadership and interpersonal practices they will need to be successful. These could also come from an outside program, but whoever delivers this instruction, the “Be With” program will have set a foundation in the person and organization that won’t easily be shaken.
What’s holding you back from committing to a “Be With” program?
Who will you start in your “Be With” program?