Leadership development has never been more widespread. Organisations invest billions in it.
Programmes are everywhere. The language of leadership has never been more sophisticated.
And yet, across almost all sectors - political, corporate, public services, emergency services, charities, the lot - leadership often feels weaker than it has in a generation. Why?
- Are our education systems failing to cultivate the quality in our young people?
- Have HR processes become too risk-averse?
- Are promotion systems becoming too influenced by box ticking?
- Are we losing the values of courage, conviction, integrity, ownership, responsibility and others beholden of previous generations?
- Has ‘following the money’ now become endemic?
- Do all these leadership programmes need revamping to reflect the world as it now is?
And many other possible reasons.
How can specific leadership coaching correct this? And does the coaching world need to adapt to reflect this apparent shortfall in a very changed world?
I ask these questions of leaders all the time. And ask myself the same – and how I can impart the awareness, knowledge, skills, tools and techniques in all of my programmes that meet today’s shortfalls and badly required needs!
We can cultivate leadership better than we are doing. It just needs prioritisation…
