Development Strategies
So far, you have assessed your leadership competencies, and clarified and prioritized your development goals. The final step is to select concrete development activities and transfer these activities into your leadership development plan.
It may expedite your analysis to review a list of some basic development strategies below. As you study this list, think of ways you can convert these basic ideas into concrete plans for development. Some development methods might be very specific, for example, "Meet with Joann Smith about her path to becoming a senior executive." Other methods might involve some specific changes you want to make in your behavior, for example, "Practice active listening skills."
Sample Development Strategies
- Take on work responsibilities that challenge your abilities.
- Join professional associations and take an active part in them.
- Read professional journals, about leadership issues in your field, and keep up with current events that affect your work.
- If assigned supervisory or team leader duties, participate in a management association with members from many fields.
- Attend relevant seminars, workshops, and conferences.
- Take training courses – tradition classroom or online courses – appropriate to your level of proficiency and career progression.
- Take small, progressive steps – enhance your competencies through activities that focus on specific behaviors.
- Cultivate a network of trusted resources for information and advice.
- Volunteer for assignments that can expand your capabilities.
- Train others in your field on topical issues that "force" you to stay current.
- Take on different leadership roles in unaccustomed circumstances, e.g., community initiatives.
- Seek out and work with a mentor who can provide an informed perspective on your capabilities.