Traditional leadership training is outdated

Leadership training

According to a new survey based on the opinions of senior line and HR managers within major companies, traditional leadership training is now outdated and needs to change across both Europe and the USA.

The survey, conducted by the Institute of Executive Development and leadership development specialist, Mannaz, found that 62 percent of respondents - based on 111 companies in Europe and the US - said they believe the classroom-based lecture approach would become more and more redundant lover the next few years.

In its place, claim respondents, would be a shift toward both individual coaching and mentoring and to 'leader to leader' development, with 75 and 69 percent of respondents recognising this shift respectively.

Respondents also believe that outdoor or "experiential" training events will also be phased out.

Priority

As the way leadership training is carried out begins to shift, HR managers also anticipate a change in what will become a priority for leadership development. According to the findings of the survey, for instance, 65 percent of respondents see the need to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation as becoming key to leadership development.

In addition, the same percentage of respondents cite a desire to improve overall executive quality, while only around a third were motivated by the need to attract new hires to the organisation or to retain existing senior leaders and executives.

Talent

According to Mannaz’s executive VP, Dr Jorgen Thorsel, "What the research shows is that the prevalent thinking on how an executive should lead is no longer valid - something the global downturn has very dramatically demonstrated."

With spots of recovery now on the horizon, how HR finds it footing in the changing face of business is critical. What's more, as the war for talent takes on a new edge - with businesses trying to retain the best - HR needs to utilize leadership development in a way that embraces accountability, empowerment and risk-taking.

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