By Chally Kacelnik
I used to think leadership development was so much fluffy nonsense before I started working with Sam and the gang, because I could never previously see a meaningful connection between the jargon that seemed to characterise leadership development and any consistent, sustainable impact. It seemed like a mess of abstract concepts and anecdotes with no real connection to the realities of work, that people were pretending made sense because they were worried about being perceived as not getting it. I think I’m pretty on the money for a lot of leadership development programs. It’s been really great, conversely, to be a part of leadership programming that delivers meaningful results that are measured meaningfully.
Our programs require demonstrable changes back at work, whether the program is unaccredited or enables a nationally accredited qualification, like a Diploma Leadership & Management. We focus on clear, measurable changes in how leaders work and the outcomes for their teams and organisation. This means tracking shifts in things like financial results, decision-making, accountability, and safety, rather than vague notions of “confidence” or “engagement.” We also use a tool we call a time capsule survey to track specific shifts in how people understand their leadership practice at the start and end of the programs. We measure how leaders understand and apply what they’ve learned in their actual work, rather than just what they recall from a training session.
More importantly, we ensure that leadership development isn’t just a one-off event. We offer a resource kit and membership in an alumni group that people can take with them. Organisations also often ask us back for follow-up, coaching, and structured opportunities for leaders to apply and refine their skills over time. This ensures that development translates into lasting organisational impact rather than being forgotten as soon as people get back to work.
When done right, leadership development isn’t fluff. It’s one of the most practical choices an organisation can make.
At LKS Quaero, we do leadership development that sticks. For more information, visit us at lksquaero.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.
