Getting the Most Out of Your Leadership Development Program

By Chally Kacelnik

Embarking on a leadership development program is an investment in both your personal and professional growth. It offers invaluable opportunities for learning, self-reflection, and skill enhancement. However, the true value of such a program lies not just in participation, but in how effectively you utilise the knowledge and skills gained. Having shepherded hundreds of students through our programming, here’s our advice on how you can get the most out of your leadership development journey:

1. Organisation is Key: Before diving into the program, take the time to set clear objectives and goals. Understand what you hope to achieve and what skills you aim to develop, and how you will organise your time to do program work alongside your business as usual work. In our programming, we use time capsule surveys and involve your direct leader so that you can set effective goals and track your progress. Being organised from the outset sets a strong foundation for your learning journey.
2. Active Participation: Engage fully in all aspects of the program with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Participate in discussions, ask questions, and seek clarification when needed. The more actively you participate, the more you’ll gain from the experience.
3. Efficient Effort Allocation: Direct your efforts efficiently by discerning between tasks that require minimal time and more extensive input. Remember that the purpose of quizzes is to demonstrate knowledge, so prioritise your efforts towards assessment tasks rather than goldplating your quiz responses. Prioritise accordingly, dedicating appropriate time and resources to each task type to optimise your learning outcomes. While options for finishing the course beyond set dates exist, success hinges on realistic planning. Major life events are uncontrollable, but if your problem is that you’re perpetually overloaded at work, that’s a known quantity. By recognising this known factor and planning accordingly, you can mitigate the risk of falling behind and the subsequent snowball effect of accumulating tasks.
4. Apply Learning Back at Work: The true test of the effectiveness of a leadership development program lies in how well you can apply the knowledge and skills gained to your role. Actively look for opportunities to implement what you’ve learned in your day-to-day work. Whether it’s trying out new communication techniques, adopting different leadership styles, or implementing strategic planning methodologies, applying your learning in real-world scenarios is crucial for growth. That’s why we design our assessment tasks so that you’re required to get started on this while the program is being undertaken.
5. Seek Feedback and Support: Don’t hesitate to seek feedback from mentors, peers, and leaders as well as our facilitators. Use their insights to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement. Leverage the support provided within the program, whether through having a chat with a facilitator or peer-to-peer networks. Collaborating with others can provide valuable perspectives and help reinforce your learning, too; you might find an assessment task is better worked on with another program participant with similar goals.
6. Continuous Reflection and Adaptation: Regularly reflect on your progress and reassess your goals. What’s working well? What challenges are you facing? Adjust your approach as needed to stay on track and continue progressing towards your objectives. Ask for help early and you’ll be better prepared.

Maximising the benefits of a leadership development program is up to you – you get out what you put in. By staying organised, actively participating, applying learning back at work, seeking feedback and support, and continuously reflecting and adapting, you can accelerate your growth as a leader.

At LKS Quaero, we run highly effective leadership development programs. For more information, visit us at lksquaero.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.