Sunday, September 4, 2011

Making Leadership Training Available To Everyone

By Lindsay Barnes


When people hear the term "leadership training", the general impression is that it is something reserved only for the boss, the manager, the CEO--basically anybody who is a higher-up in the company. Not many people think that leadership training is something that they need or would have any use for, especially those who say that they don't have any aspirations to be in a higher position in the office. "I don't want to be a manager or a leader. There are just too many problems that come with that job. I'm perfectly happy where I am, " some would say.

However, one has to keep in mind that training to be a leader isn't necessarily something that only leaders or would-be leaders should undergo. Leadership training doesn't just involve preparing someone to take over a bigger role in a company. It mainly entails improving one's skills, characteristics, and ability to see the big picture in the company, creating a person who is more of a visionary and who understands what needs to be done in order to steer a company forward.

When introducing the idea of leadership training to non-managers, it is important to highlight the benefits one can get from it. Clarify that it has nothing to do with solely grooming them to become among the leaders of the company in the future, but rather with how they can become more empowered in their current positions.

Be sure to highlight how important they all are in each of their positions. They are the only ones who do the work that they do, and it is important for them to have initiative and be able to know what the right decisions to make are as well as how to solve any problems he or she may encounter on the job. People should also be committed to do their work well and find the right things to do.

Having initiative, being a problem-solver and a decision-maker, as well as knowing what the right things to do are are all part of being a leader. In every position, employees need to exhibit these characteristics. Having them undergo leadership training prevents them from sinking into an "I'm just a cog in the machine" mentality, thinking that they are powerless and that they shouldn't make a move without approval. It also ensures that they will be able to work better and see their positions in a different light, helping them understand their value to the company.




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