Tag Archive: leadership development

Mar 30 2011

Leadership Development – What do Workers Need? Safety

We previously discussed the first level of human need on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy. Next we’ll look at the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy which is the safety need. Maslow focused on the need to be free from fear and was generally referring to a larger social context. However, leaders should consider how this level of need applies to the workplace. When workers feel unsafe, their attention becomes completely focused on their own safety and they experience fear. That feeling of fear will keep them from considering much else.

Mar 23 2011

Leadership Development – What do Workers Need? Survival

Jennifer was a good worker and the customers liked her. She consistently received favorable customer comments and many of the regulars asked for her by name. The store manager always gave Jennifer high marks on her appraisals and felt she had a great future with the company. When Jennifer announced that she was leaving, it was a great surprise for both her department and the store manager. Jennifer left the store because she had found a job that paid more.

Mar 16 2011

Leadership Development – What do Workers Need?

A restaurant owner once told me that it was difficult to motivate employees because most workers in the food service industry were just working there while waiting for whatever was next. That’s a common thought throughout the retail industry and in many cases it’s true. Why? For one thing, our society doesn’t see hawking disassembled furniture at Target, or waiting tables at Applebee’s as glamorous jobs. If we ask why again, there are several popular answers, but I want to concentrate on a particular area that many leaders don’t seem to pay much attention to. That is, leaders seldom make much effort to satisfy employee needs.

Mar 02 2011

Leadership Development: Six Steps in Preparation to Lead

After years of lower level leadership positions, I was anxious for the big time. I could envision myself in the big chair, issuing orders, solving problems, and just generally making the organization, if not the world, a much better place. Nothing would faze me and I would be loved by all. Then one day my opportunity came. This was what I had been waiting for. Bring it on!

Feb 03 2011

Leadership Development – 4 Steps to Embracing Conflict

Is there any place that is truly free of conflict? If there is, I haven’t seen it. The fact is that humans will always disagree, have differing goals, or just have bad days. It’s a leader’s job to manage, not prevent, conflict to make it a positive rather than distracting force in the workplace. That seems like a difficult assignment. How does a leader manage conflict?

Dec 14 2010

How To Design A Great Leadership Development Program: Follow-Up, Follow-Up

One common critique of leadership training programs is that the leader attends some training, but then isn’t able to utilize what they’ve learned at work because there is no support mechanism within the organization. A comprehensive leadership training program will include a support structure for developing leaders. This support takes several forms.

Dec 09 2010

How To Design A Great Leadership Development Program: The Essential Elements

You’ve decided to create a formal leadership development program and have identified potential future leaders. What elements should the program contain? A good leadership development program should be designed to develop leaders incrementally. So, start with the basics and work up to more advanced levels. For first-level managers the program should include the following.

Dec 07 2010

How To Design A Great Leadership Development Program: Traits to Look For in Potential Leaders

You have your eye on a couple of people who you think have potential to be your next leaders. Now you need to carefully evaluate them against a few very important measures.

Dec 02 2010

How To Design A Great Leadership Development Program: Where to Look for Potential Leaders

How do you select leaders? Do you have a particular method or procedure or is it just a matter of who catches your eye? Once you’ve established a leadership development program, the next step is to determine who your future leaders are. Remember, it’s best to start by looking for new, first-level managers. There are a couple of places to look for potential leaders.

Nov 30 2010

How To Design A Great Leadership Development Program: The Basics

When did you first begin to learn the concepts of good leadership? Did you receive formal training? Did someone help you along, or were you just thrown to the wolves to fend for yourself? Unfortunately, too many beginning leaders find themselves to be wolf-bait. If they survive, they might receive some type of “leadership development,” which often emphasizes management principles more than actual leadership. The smart, successful organization will design a leadership development program that develops leaders incrementally, beginning with first level managers.

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